With India’s aerospace story moving beyond aircraft orders and assembly lines, the next big opportunity is taking shape deeper within the supply chain – in the precision components, machining and specialised manufacturing capabilities needed to keep global aircraft programmes moving. And, as global aircraft demand puts pressure on aerospace supply chains, the Bengaluru-based JJG Aero is investing R200 crore to expand capacity and position itself as a large manufacturing partner for global aerospace programmes.
JJG Aero feels that this is where India can make its next big leap. The precision aerospace manufacturer is now sitting on an order book of about Rs1,500 crore, with customers including Collins Aerospace, Safran, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Woodward and Liebherr. The company’s plan includes adding hundreds of CNC machines over the coming years, creating a larger manufacturing platform capable of supporting higher volumes and more complex aerospace programmes.
The timing of the expansion is significant, as aircraft manufacturers are grappling with strong demand and sizable production backlogs globally. Airlines are placing new orders to expand fleets, while OEMs and Tier I suppliers are under pressure to increase production.
For precision component manufacturers, the opportunity is therefore not simply about winning new customers. It is about having the capacity, technology and quality systems to deliver consistently when those customers scale their own production.
JJG Aero operates a 95,000 sq ft facility in Bengaluru, with more than 150 machining centres and over 30 surface-treatment lines. Its next investment is aimed at taking that manufacturing base to a significantly larger scale.
“Our focus is to build a manufacturing ecosystem that can compete globally on precision, quality and scale,” says Anuj Jhunjhunwala, founder, JJG Aero. “India has an opportunity to become a larger part of the global aerospace supply chain and our investments are aimed at building the capabilities required to support that transition,” he adds.
The supply-chain moment
The opportunity for India is bigger than cost competitiveness. A combination of engineering talent, manufacturing capabilities, a growing domestic aviation market and increasing global interest in supply-chain diversification is making the country an increasingly important aerospace destination.
Global aerospace companies are looking to build more resilient supply chains, reduce concentration risks and identify manufacturing partners that can support programmes over long production cycles. India is well placed to benefit from this shift and increase its share of the global supply chain from 2 per cent to 10 per cent.
Government-led initiatives are also encouraging greater domestic participation in aerospace and defence manufacturing. Projects such as the Airbus-Tata C-295 and the upcoming Adani-Embraer programmes have demonstrated how Indian companies can become part of global aircraft manufacturing ecosystems.
But the opportunity extends far beyond aircraft assembly. Precision machining, surface treatment, forgings, castings, aerostructures and other specialised capabilities are critical links in the aerospace value chain.
Our focus is to build a manufacturing ecosystem that can compete globally on precision, quality and scale
For JJG Aero, scaling up is not simply a numbers game. Aerospace manufacturing operates under some of the industry’s most stringent requirements. Components must meet exact specifications, production must be traceable and quality must remain consistent across large volumes and long programme cycles. This means that expanding capacity requires investments in people, technology, processes and quality systems, alongside machinery.
JJG Aero’s existing infrastructure brings machining and surface-treatment capabilities together within its manufacturing ecosystem. The company believes this integrated approach can help it offer global customers greater consistency, while preparing for larger production requirements.
There is also a powerful domestic factor supporting the opportunity. India’s aviation market continues to expand, with rising passenger traffic, fleet expansion and investments across airports, airlines, maintenance and aerospace infrastructure. This creates a two-sided opportunity for Indian manufacturers.
For companies such as JJG Aero, the intersection of these two trends could be significant. Its Bengaluru base places it within one of India’s strongest aerospace and engineering ecosystems, while its relationships with global aerospace majors give it access to international programmes.
The real opportunity now is to move up the value chain, from being a component supplier to becoming a strategic manufacturing partner, including sub-assemblies. Global aerospace programmes require suppliers that can deliver precision, quality and reliability consistently for years, while also having the ability to scale when production requirements change.
JJG Aero’s expansion is therefore a bet on both its own growth and the larger evolution of India’s aerospace industry. India has already established itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The next question is how much of the aircraft value chain it can build at home. JJG Aero wants to be part of that answer!