"Growth-oriented, Atmanirbhar Bharat supporting": Thales India VP praises Union Budget 2026

Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 19 (ANI): Thales India Vice President Ankur Kanaglekar hailed the Union Budget 2026 as a transformative, growth oriented initiative that strongly supports India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, particularly in the civil aviation sector.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Kanaglekar, who leads Thales’ operations in India for the French defence and aerospace giant, described the budget as a “magic triangle” aligning with Make in India, Export from India and Innovate from India principles. He highlighted key measures, including exemptions on basic customs duties for raw materials used in Maintenance, Repair, and MRO facilities and components for aircraft manufacturing. These steps, he said, will significantly reduce costs, enhance competitiveness of local manufacturing, and bolster long term sustainability in civil aviation.

“The 2026 budget is a very growth oriented and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ supporting budget,” Kanaglekar stated. There is a significant effort made to support the civil aviation growth,” he said. This aligns seamlessly with Thales’ strategy to deepen its footprint in India’s rapidly expanding aviation ecosystem.

Kanaglekar expressed pride in Thales’ collaboration with Air India which has equipped its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft with Thales’ advanced AVANT Up inflight entertainment system. Air India became the first airline in the Asia Pacific region to operate aircraft featuring this state of the art, cloud based system. The AVANT Up provides passengers with a seamless digital experience including high definition touchscreens, USB and Bluetooth connectivity for personal devices and enhanced overall comfort. The system was showcased on Air India’s 787-9 at Wings India and Thales hopes to see it deployed across more aircraft in the carrier’s fleet. “We are extremely proud that Air India chose us for the AVANT system,” Kanaglekar said. “Customers are also happy. 

With a presence in India spanning over 70 years, Thales views the country’s civil aviation sector as having immense potential. Kanaglekar pointed to the frequent inaugurations of new airports and terminals as evidence of unstoppable momentum.

Thales’ strategy focuses on co-creating the ecosystem through partnerships with airlines, airport operators and stakeholders. This includes providing MRO services, supporting the Digi Yatra biometric system at airports, and delivering advanced solutions to boost sector efficiency. “Our strategy is very simple: how do we bring the best of what Thales has to offer, coupled with what India has to offer through partners and suppliers to improve the value proposition for customers in India,” he explained.

Thales maintains strong ties with major carriers, including a significant maintenance partnership with IndiGo covering its current and future fleet of over 1,200 aircraft. Kanaglekar indicated plans to expand collaborations with both Air India and IndiGo.

In a major step forward India has joined Thales’ elite network of five global corporate laboratories for Research & Technology with the launch of Thales Research & Technology India in Bengaluru in 2026. Kanaglekar emphasized Bengaluru’s status as India’s innovation hub, driven by top educational institutions, talent pools and strong public private sector presence. “Bengaluru is the heart of innovation in India,” he noted. “There is tremendous talent there, so we opened a centre in Bangalore. This gives us access to innovation and talent. Hopefully, we will grow that significantly.”

Kanaglekar underscored Thales’ deep expertise in artificial intelligence, particularly its applications in aviation to deliver enhanced services to airline customers. He described the recent AI Summit as a pivotal event in advancing India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat.

On the enduring India-France relationship, Kanaglekar highlighted its strategic depth and foundation of trust which enables Thales to introduce cutting-edge technologies to the Indian market.

“The India France relationship is long term and strategic. It is rooted in trust,” he concluded. “We are really fortunate that this relationship allows us to bring the best of what Thales has to offer to India.” As India accelerates its aviation ambitions and self-reliance goals, Thales positions itself as a key partner in building a world-class, innovative ecosystem. (ANI)