State readying roadmap to bolster aerospace, defence ecosystem: Minister

Telangana is preparing a comprehensive roadmap to develop a globally competitive aerospace and defence ecosystem, Industries and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu said here on Saturday.

Building on the foundations that helped the State shape into a strategic defence hub over the decades, the roadmap will seek to capitalise on the China plus one strategy of global firms, the growing significance on securing supply chain amid geopolitical dynamics as well as contribute to making India Atma Nirbhar or self sufficient. In doing so, Telangana intends to leverage on the various factors with a focus and preparedness to shape a robust ecosystem in collaboration with industry and academic institutions, the Minister told an aerospace and defence manufacturing summit organised by the Munjal Institute for Global Manufacturing at the Indian School of Business here.

“We are also visualising Telangana to become India’s aero-engine capital by 2030,” Mr. Sridhar Babu said, adding the State’s plans, beyond the robust A&D ecosystem, include emerging as a leading MRO centre and playing host to the largest UAV/autonomy cluster, AI and defence tech hub as well as a complete OEM supply chain. Telangana currently hosts more than 25 national and international firms in the A&D domain and over 1,500 MSMEs. Aerospace exports from the State were more than ₹30,700 crore last fiscal and on course to higher growth.

Key investments in the A&D space recently and on the cards include the ₹425 crore Tata–Safran aero-engine facility at Adibatla that recently become operational, the upcoming commissioning of ₹800 crore JSW Defence UAV manufacturing unit and Premier Explosives’ new 500 crore defence production facility. Many more global companies are in advanced discussions to invest in Telangana.

Yet another area where the State government is focussed remains the key aspect of ensuring availability of a steady stream of skilled workers meeting the requirement of the industry, the Minister said, pointing out to the Young India Skills University Telangana has set up under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The State offers speed in approvals, scale in infrastructure and talent ready, job ready workforce to industries, Mr. Sridhar Babu said.

Industrialist and Munjal Institute of Global Manufacturing (MIGM) founder Sunil Kant Munjal said India’s drive for self reliance in defence and aerospace must integrate into the global value chain rather than adopt an isolationist approach.