‘Telangana building future-ready aerospace ecosystem’

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Minister for IT and Industries Duddilla Sridhar Babu stated that Telangana is positioning itself as a strategic hub for the country’s future aerospace requirements by building an ecosystem centred on research and development, advanced manufacturing, certification and compliance.

Addressing a national conference on “Changing Scenario in Aerospace: R&D, Manufacturing and Certification”, organised by the Hyderabad chapter of The Aeronautical Society of India at the Engineering Staff College of India in Gachibowli here on Friday, the Minister said only those countries and States that successfully integrate these three pillars would emerge as global leaders in aerospace.

He said the State government was developing an ecosystem capable of responding to the rapid changes and challenges confronting the global aerospace sector.

“Aerospace is no longer confined to manufacturing aircraft and machines. It has become a reflection of a nation’s strategic capability, technological strength and confidence,” Sridhar Babu said.

The Minister noted that while the sector was once dominated by the United States, Russia and Europe, India was now playing an increasingly important role in the global aerospace supply chain.

Referring to UNESCO estimates, he said India had one of the world’s largest pools of scientists and engineers. However, Sridhar Babu expressed concern that, according to a McKinsey report, less than 30% of research conducted in laboratories was translated into commercial manufacturing.

“The State government is committed to bridging this gap and converting research into products,” he said.

Citing the Deloitte Global Aerospace and Defence Survey, Sridhar Babu said 74% of aerospace chief executives now prioritised resilient supply chains and manufacturing capability over low-cost production.

He said Boeing and Airbus had estimated that the world would require around 42,000 new aircraft over the next two decades. Telangana, particularly Hyderabad, is preparing to tap this opportunity by strengthening its precision engineering base, defence manufacturing network and micro, small and medium enterprises ecosystem, Sridhar Babu said.

The Minister said India continued to depend on foreign countries for aerospace testing and certification, leading not only to higher costs but also delays of 18 to 24 months in bringing products to market.

He urged the Union government to support the development of a world-class aerospace certification ecosystem in Hyderabad, which, he said, possessed all the necessary advantages.

Sridhar Babu said emerging technologies such as drones, reusable rockets, AI-enabled avionics, 3D printing and advanced materials would shape the future of aerospace and that Telangana was preparing itself accordingly.

He said more than 1,500 MSMEs in Hyderabad were already supplying components to global aerospace companies, taking the “Made in Telangana” brand to international markets.

Later, Sridhar Babu felicitated scientists and other eminent personalities for their contribution to the aerospace sector.