India’s aerospace and defence sectors critically depend on advanced materials such as titanium, nickel, and other superalloys for the production of forgings, castings, billets, and complex components. While the nation has achieved significant progress in machining and surface treatment technologies, it remains heavily reliant on imports for these raw materials. This dependence represents a strategic vulnerability, particularly in the context of the current global geopolitical environment marked by conflicts, sanctions, and disrupted supply chains. The Russia–Ukraine war, for instance, highlighted the fragility of international supply as major aerospace companies—Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Aviation, and Boeing—pre-booked raw material mills to full capacity, leaving limited access for other players.

For India, the challenge of sustaining indigenous aircraft, engine manufacturing, and long-term serviceability is magnified by the absence of domestic industries and infrastructure capable of producing titanium and nickel alloys in usable forms and shapes. Presently, only select government organizations such as Mishra Dhatu Nigam, AVNL, and DMRL are engaged in limited developmental efforts, with recent participation from private firms like PTC Industries. However, broader industrial engagement remains constrained by insufficient information, high capital requirements, and technological barriers.

This research emphasizes the strategic need to establish indigenous capacity for titanium alloy production, a material indispensable for aerospace applications, where a single aircraft engine may require more than 1,000 material variants. The study seeks to assess demand, identify infrastructure gaps, and provide a roadmap for domestic production. By enabling local availability of titanium alloys, India can progress toward true self-reliance under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, reducing external dependency and enhancing defence preparedness. Moreover, the study will serve as a template for extending similar approaches to nickel alloys and rare earth materials, strengthening India’s long-term material security and industrial competitiveness..