India focussing on boosting the country’s aerospace sector

India's plan to manufacture aero engines is a significant step in boosting the country's aerospace sector. Currently, India relies heavily on importing aero engines for its aerospace industry, which can be expensive and hinder technological independence. By manufacturing aero engines domestically, India can reduce its dependence on imports and develop its own expertise and capabilities in the field.

The development of a domestic aero engine industry would also have significant positive impacts on the economy, including the creation of jobs, the growth of the manufacturing sector, and the development of new technologies. India's aerospace sector is an important contributor to the country's economy, and the development of a domestic aero engine industry would help to further strengthen this sector.

However, developing a domestic aero engine industry is a complex and challenging process that requires significant investment in research and development, as well as the development of the necessary manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains. It may take several years before India can fully develop its domestic aero engine industry.

Overall, India's plan to manufacture aero engines is a positive step towards the growth and development of the country's aerospace sector. By investing in this critical area, India can become more self-sufficient and competitive in the global aerospace market.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday (13) that it is high time India should manufacture aero engines to boost the aerospace sector and achieve complete self-reliance.

“Often I have been asked when India would come up with indigenous aero-engines and I always say that we are working on it. But someday we need to give answers. How long can we say that we will make our engines some day? It is not a battle of Panipat. Our target should be to make our aero-engines and write a new history,” he said during his inaugural address at a seminar titled ‘Indigenous Development of Futuristic Aerospace Technologies including Way Forward for Development of Indigenous Aero Engines’, organized by the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) as a part of 14th Aero India in Bengaluru.

Singh said that after 75 years of independence, it is time to ensure that Indian aircraft fly with indigenously-made engines. He stressed on the need to focus on indigenous design and development of essential weapon systems using niche technologies like Artificial Intelligence, drones, stealth, hypersonic and quantum computing.

The minister also exhorted the DRDO to encourage start-ups and new R&D establishments to develop incremental innovations, minor sub-systems and their technologies through schemes like Technology Development Fund (TDF) and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX). “DRDO is no longer just a service provider for defence R&D. It is now also a facilitator for in-house industrial R&D, start-ups and private sector labs. There is a need to take advantage of this synergy,” he said.

Singh asked the officials to set short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and work to build disruptive, cutting-edge or frontier technologies.

“In the earlier days, a warrior had to take care of his food, clothing and weapons. Later, with the development of technology, the work was distributed and the weapons were developed by experts while a warrior would only concentrate on his job of fighting a war. Today, DRDO is a hero working for the betterment of our armed forces,” Singh said.

He enumerated some of the notable, including helicopters, weapon systems like TAPAS, Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, Medium Range Artillery Gun and radars developed by DRDO and commended the efforts of scientists working at the organization. He stated the world is recognizing these achievements, with many countries importing defence equipment from India and many more in the process of acquiring the weapon systems.

Singh termed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as a game changer for the aerospace industry. “A highly-capable aerial platform, LCA Tejas has a commendable record in flight safety which speaks volumes about its quality. Based on its success, the government has now approved LCA-Mk II for the Indian Air Force, while the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter is under consideration for the Indian Navy. We have also started moving forward in the path of design and manufacturing of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft in the form of 5th generation stealth aircraft. Whether it is water, land or sky, DRDO has always been at the forefront in strengthening the security infrastructure,” he said.

India has been making significant strides in the development of futuristic aerospace technologies in recent years. The country's indigenous development of aerospace technologies has been driven by a combination of government initiatives and private sector investment. Here are some of the key areas where India has been making progress:

Space exploration: India's space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has made significant progress in space exploration. In 2019, ISRO successfully launched its second lunar mission, the Chandrayaan-2, which included a lunar lander and rover. ISRO has also been working on a Mars mission, and in 2014, it successfully placed a satellite into Mars orbit, making India the first country to do so on its first attempt.

Hypersonic flight: India is also developing hypersonic flight technology, which could revolutionize air travel by reducing travel time between destinations. In 2019, India successfully tested its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which is capable of flying at speeds of Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound).

Stealth technology: India is also investing in stealth technology, which makes aircraft and missiles more difficult to detect by radar. In 2019, India unveiled its first indigenous stealth drone, the Rustom-2, which is capable of carrying out surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Electric propulsion: India is also exploring the use of electric propulsion systems for aircraft, which could reduce emissions and noise pollution. In 2020, a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras successfully tested an electric-powered prototype aircraft.

Additive manufacturing: India is also investing in additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, for aerospace applications. In 2018, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully tested a 3D-printed drone, and in 2020, the IAF announced plans to use 3D printing to manufacture aircraft parts.

Overall, India's indigenous development of futuristic aerospace technologies is an exciting area of growth, with the potential to transform the country's aerospace industry and make significant contributions to global aerospace innovation. India has been developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapons for both military and civilian use in recent years. The development of these technologies is a significant step forward for India's aerospace and defence industries and is part of the country's larger effort to increase its technological capabilities and strengthen its national security.

In the military sector, India has developed a number of UAVs, including the Rustom and Nishant, which are designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat operations. These UAVs have been used in a number of military operations, including during border conflicts with neighbouring countries.

In addition to UAVs, India has also developed a range of weapons systems, including missiles, torpedoes, and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). For example, India's BrahMos missile is one of the fastest cruise missiles in the world and is jointly developed with Russia. India's UGVs are used for a variety of tasks, including surveillance, reconnaissance, and bomb disposal.