Building blocks for establishing a successful aerospace manufacturing supply chain in India

Abstract

With the multi-billion dollar Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender for 126 fighter jets floated by the Indian government, all major aerospace players are eyeing for a piece of it. This has led to increased attention from major players across the world. The Indian Aerospace industry has a long history. Airbus SAS had allocated manufacturing work worth over $80 million to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for making aircraft doors. Infosys played a vital role in designing a portion of the Airbus A380’s wing. And, HCL Technologies is providing software and hardware development services to Boeing for its new 787 Dreamliner project. Archaic defence sensitiveness is still rooted deeply in the minds of the defence planners. It is a fact that in the name of national security concerns, for over 50 years India strictly adhered to an industrial policy that facilitated only the public sector in defence.