India Could Have First Made-In-India Civilian Aircraft Within 2 Years: Aviation Minister

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on October 6 that India could develop its first indigenously made civilian aircraft within two years through a joint venture, signalling the country's expanding ambitions in aviation manufacturing. Speaking at a symposium organised by the Indian Foundation for Quality Management in New Delhi, Naidu highlighted the rapid expansion of India's aviation ecosystem without disclosing specific project details.

India is among the world's fastest-growing domestic civil aviation markets. Indian airlines have over 1,600 aircraft on order valued at approximately $100 billion, with a combined fleet of around 850 aircraft operating across 165 airports. More than 100 new airports are projected to be established over the next decade, expanding manufacturing and service opportunities.

Navidu emphasised that quality materials and skilled workers would be critical for high-end aviation manufacturing. Currently, Boeing and Airbus source components and services worth around $4 billion from India annually, a figure projected to reach $10 billion by the end of the decade.