Airbornics Defence & Space Pvt Ltd.(ADSL), the defence and aerospace division of India’s JCBL Group, has partnered with Nigus Hercules Limited to develop maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Nigeria. The initiative aims to strengthen local defence infrastructure, transfer technical knowledge and improve the availability of military equipment.
The partnership follows ADSL’s participation in the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos, where the company presented its defence technology portfolio and explored opportunities for industrial cooperation. The collaboration will focus on developing in-country capabilities to maintain and modernise military platforms used by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The proposed programme will cover armoured vehicles, engines and air defence equipment. ADSL will contribute engineering expertise, overhaul procedures, specialist training and spares support. The initiative is intended to reduce repair turnaround times, improve equipment readiness and develop technical skills among Nigerian engineers and maintenance personnel.
Nigus Tactical Systems Limited, the Nigerian partner within Nigus Hercules, is working to develop domestic defence manufacturing and support capabilities through the DICON NIGUS TACTICAL platform under Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation framework.
HRH Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Nigus Hercules Limited, said Nigeria needed the ability to maintain and sustain the equipment used by its Armed Forces. He said the partnership would focus on developing local skills, dependable support services and long-term industrial capabilities.
Rohit Nandal, Chief Operating Officer of Nigus Hercules Limited, said the development of MRO infrastructure was important for defence self-reliance and would support knowledge transfer and local engineering expertise. Raj Kumar Pandey, Joint Managing Director of ADSL, said the company intended to adapt technologies to the requirements of African markets, following an approach similar to the customisation of defence systems for Indian requirements.
The partners also plan to establish a Centre of Excellence for lifecycle support, upgrades and life extension of armoured platforms. The facility is expected to support technology transfer, employment and specialised engineering development. Implementation will take place in phases, based on service requirements, infrastructure readiness and technical training. Sandip Chakroborty, Joint Managing Director (Operations) of ADSL, said the partnership would combine international technology standards with Nigerian industrial capabilities to establish local support infrastructure.
ADSL has experience in maintaining, refurbishing and modernising military platforms, including T-72 tanks and BMP infantry fighting vehicles. In India, it has signed an agreement with the Army’s Fire and Fury Corps to establish a New Generation Vehicle Repair Hub and Warehouse at the 14 Corps Zonal Workshop in Leh. Its international partnerships include cooperation with Slovakia on turrets, active protection systems and remote-controlled weapon systems.
At AFRIDEX 2026, ADSL displayed systems covering counter-unmanned aerial systems, protected mobility, weapon stations, radar and aerial delivery. Its exhibits included the Tusker Counter-UAS System, Tusker Light Bulletproof Vehicle, CANNA-50 Remote-Controlled Weapon Station and parachute systems. Through the Nigeria partnership, ADSL aims to build long-term industrial relationships in Africa, with particular emphasis on local maintenance, technology cooperation and defence sustainment capabilities across the ECOWAS region.
ADSL is a defence and aerospace company specialising in the design, manufacture, servicing and upgradation of aerial delivery systems, strategic defence platforms and armoured vehicles. The company adheres to established quality and security standards, holding certifications including ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, CMMI Level 3 and AS 9100D for Aerospace Quality Management Systems.
ADSL operates across four key business verticals: Aerial Delivery Systems, Land Systems, Combat Vehicle Technology, and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Sustenance. Each vertical is backed by in-house research and development, manufacturing infrastructure and a focus on precision, quality and operational excellence.
Its Aerial Delivery Systems portfolio includes cargo extraction systems, ground support vehicles, aerospace structures and subsystems. The Land Systems division manufactures low-profile bulletproof vehicles (LBPVs), heavy vehicles, armoured hulls, gun-mounting cabins, trailers and shelters. It also undertakes the refurbishment, modernisation and localisation of defence platforms, including T-72 and T-90 tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and BMPs.
Through its Combat Vehicle Technology division, ADSL develops solutions such as Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), Remote-Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS), turret systems and Active Protection Systems (APS). These capabilities are designed to address the evolving technological and operational requirements of modern defence forces. Across its business verticals, ADSL continues to strengthen its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to support the development, maintenance and modernisation of defence and aerospace platforms.
