THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju has called for indigenisation of advanced materials for the success of aerospace industry in India.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day International Conference on Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes for Strategic Sectors that began here yesterday, Raju said “indigenisation of advanced materials is key to the aerospace manufacturing in India.”
“When it comes to aerospace raw material be it aluminium, titanium, plastics or composites there is wide capability gap in the country and therefore industries especially in private sector must come forward to boost aerospace manufacturing in the country,” he said.
“One can achieve this dream by taking strategic materials research in mission mode in niche areas such as electronic materials, advanced high temperature alloys for propulsion systems and composite material,” he added.
The HAL chief also called for synergy between efforts of various governments and non-government establishments in defence, space and atomic energy to ensure that resources were not wasted through duplication.
He stressed on two-pronged strategy to fulfil ‘Make in India’ concept in this sector through strengthening of R&D ecosystem for strategic materials and processes, and by augmenting manufacturing facilities.
He also touched on importance of industry academia association and significance of constantly emerging new materials.
Those who addressed the meet included Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, M C Dathan, CMD, MIDHANI, Narayana Rao, and Director of National Institute of Advanced Studies (NISA), Bangalore, Baldev Raj.
