India is well-positioned to tap into a multi-billion dollar export opportunity by supplying aircraft components to airframers and other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), sources told BusinessLine. As part of this effort, the government has held consultations with industry stakeholders to understand the challenges they face in scaling up production and achieving innovation milestones.
In addition, discussions are ongoing to ensure the aerospace industry has uninterrupted access to high-quality steel and aluminium. Stakeholder feedback has also emphasized the need for establishing testing and certification facilities within India that are accredited by international bodies like the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration, US) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency).
“Standardisation remains a key challenge. A bilateral agreement between India’s civil aviation regulator and its counterparts in the US and EU is necessary to certify Indian-made parts for use in aircraft manufactured by Boeing and Airbus,” the sources said.
Such facilities, once operational, are expected to streamline the certification process, making it faster and more cost-effective. They would also support the design and testing of innovative components developed locally.
Currently, India exports aircraft micro-assemblies worth over $2 billion annually. However, experts see the potential for exports to grow to $20 billion over the next decade, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs.
Global supply chain disruptions have highlighted India’s strategic advantage as a manufacturing base. Companies like Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, and GE are ramping up local production through partnerships with Indian suppliers.
Moreover, scaling up component manufacturing is expected to give a major boost to India’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector by offering locally sourced parts at lower costs, benefiting from reduced tax rates.
“A strong regulatory framework and enhanced support for R&D will significantly strengthen India’s role as a global aerospace manufacturing leader,” said Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia. He noted that Boeing collaborates with over 300 Indian suppliers, including more than 25% MSMEs, contributing over $1.25 billion in annual sourcing.
According to industry analyst Mark Martin of Martin Consulting, in addition to securing FAA PMA and EASA Part 21 certifications for Indian-made components, it is essential that OEMs assign part numbers and include them in their Illustrated Parts Catalogues (IPCs) to enable global adoption.
This opportunity extends beyond traditional aeronautical components into non-aeronautical domains with strong industrial potential.
Rossell Techsys, a key supplier of mission-critical assemblies to OEMs such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, views the current landscape as a “strategic inflection point” for India’s aerospace sector.
“The government’s focus on regulatory reform and R&D support signals readiness to evolve from contract manufacturing to full-scale component manufacturing and global solutions,” said Prabhat Kumar Bhagavandas, Director and CEO of Rossell Techsys Inc. “However, realizing this vision depends on faster certification processes, access to specialized materials, and robust testing infrastructure.”
