At the sidelines of Aero India 2025, Life of Soldiers had the opportunity to engage in an insightful conversation with Pavan Ranga, CEO, Rangsons Aerospace—a key player in India’s growing aerospace and defence manufacturing sector. As the nation advances towards self-reliance in aerospace technology, Rangsons Aerospace has been at the forefront of innovation and strategic collaborations.
In this exclusive interaction, Mr Ranga shares his perspectives on India’s evolving defence landscape, the role of private industry in indigenisation, and how Rangsons Aerospace is contributing to cutting-edge aerospace solutions. He also delves into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Here’s what he had to say.
1. Strategic Partnership with Oversat
LoS: Rangsons Aerospace is set to sign a strategic partnership with Oversat at Aero India 2025 to develop Luneberg lens-based multibeam antennas for tracking multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Could you elaborate on the technological advancements this partnership aims to achieve and how it will address current connectivity challenges in maritime, land mobile, and aerospace sectors?
PR: At the very heart of our collaboration with Oversat lies the creation of the future of satellite communication. The Luneberg lens-based multibeam antennas which are being developed will provide a completely new approach for tracking and communication with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Conventional SATCOM systems are meant for fixed or single satellite tracking; this was quickly phased out with the buoyant momentum of LEO constellations that call for dynamic multi-target solutions.
These next-generation antennas will deliver seamless, high-speed connectivity to solve one of the most challenging aspects of modern communication networks over maritime, land-mobile, and aerospace sectors. True to the spirit of this partnership, it is about creating a new definition as to what connectivity is going to look like in an age where global seamless communication is of absolute essence.
2. Expansion of Global Supply Chain
LoS: With global aerospace firms like Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce expanding parts sourcing from India, how is Rangsons Aerospace positioning itself to capitalize on this trend? What strategies are in place to meet the quality and scale requirements of these international giants?
PR: India has undeniably emerged as a global powerhouse in aerospace manufacturing. This transformation is driven by two key factors: leading aerospace giants like Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce expanding their sourcing from India, and Rangsons Aerospace playing a pivotal role at the forefront of this evolution.
At Rangsons Aerospace, our ambition goes beyond being just a supplier—we strive to be a trusted partner, distinguished by our commitment to precision, innovation, and reliability. To this end, we have made significant investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, and digital processes, ensuring we meet the stringent quality standards set by global aerospace leaders.
Simultaneously, we are scaling up our production capabilities without compromising on quality. This enables us to meet rising demand while upholding the highest standards of engineering excellence. In aerospace, sustained quality is the backbone of success, and we remain relentless in our pursuit of perfection.
3. Five-Year Contract with Boeing
LoS: In January 2024, Rangsons Aerospace signed a five-year contract with Boeing to supply tubes and ducts for aerospace systems, marking Boeing’s first collaboration of this nature with an Indian supplier. How has this partnership evolved over the past year, and what impact has it had on Rangsons Aerospace’s operations and capabilities?
PR: Boeing’s partnership marks a significant milestone for Indian aerospace manufacturing. This five-year contract for the supply of tubes and ducts is Boeing’s first major collaboration with an Indian supplier—a testament to India’s growing credibility in the global aerospace ecosystem. Over the past year, we have strengthened our manufacturing processes to align with Boeing’s rigorous global standards. However, this partnership goes beyond just fulfilling an order. It signals a fundamental shift in how the world’s leading aerospace companies perceive Indian manufacturers.
By continuously refining our precision engineering capabilities and deepening our expertise in fluid distribution systems, we are demonstrating that India is not just a viable option but a trusted, high-quality manufacturing partner on the global stage.
4. Indigenous Development Initiatives
LoS: Considering India’s focus on boosting domestic defence manufacturing and exports, what indigenous technologies and products is Rangsons Aerospace currently developing? How do these align with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and the goal to reduce dependency on imports?
PR: India’s aerospace and defence industry must evolve beyond assembling imported systems and focus on designing and manufacturing its own. This has been Rangsons Aerospace’s philosophy from the very beginning. We were the first Indian company to develop airborne heat exchangers, now integrated into platforms like the Dornier, ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), and ULH (Ultra-Light Helicopter) in their latest production variants.
Aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, we are driving indigenous innovation in thermal management, avionics, and satellite communication. Our SATCOM systems, originally developed through advanced technology transfers from Israeli partners, have been further customized to meet Indian defence requirements and are now operational with the Indian Air Force.
Our vision extends beyond import substitution—we are committed to developing world-class aerospace technologies that are globally competitive. The long-term goal is to position India as an aerospace innovation hub, pioneering advanced technologies that can be marketed and deployed worldwide.
5. Advancements in Electronic Warfare and Avionics
LoS: At Aero India 2025, Rangsons Aerospace is showcasing capabilities in avionics and electronic warfare pods. Could you provide insights into the latest developments in these areas and how they enhance the operational effectiveness of defence platforms?
PR: In modern defence strategies, electronic warfare (EW) and avionics are two very vital areas, and Rangsons Aerospace is developing both these sectors. In Aero India 2025, we plan to demonstrate next-generation EW pods for threat detection, signal intelligence, and counter-measure operations.
The avionics systems developed by us are all designed for modularity to facilitate smooth integration across defence platforms. In the fast-changing world of technology, adaptive and scalable solutions that improve operational effectiveness in high-pressure environments are our focus. The pace of threat detection, adaptation, and reaction will define the future of defence, and that’s where we are channelling our innovation.
6. Collaborations with International Firms
LoS: Beyond the partnership with Oversat, Rangsons Aerospace has previously signed an MoU with German firm HENSOLDT to develop indigenous datalink systems. How do such collaborations influence your technological roadmap, and what benefits do they bring to the Indian defence ecosystem?
PR: At Rangsons Aerospace one of our core values is that innovation can truly be achieved by collaborative efforts; for us, partnerships are more than contractual obligations; they are investments for the future. The work we’re doing with HENSOLDT concerning indigenous datalink systems isn’t simply that of technology transfer; it is about the co-development of solutions tailored to India’s specific defence requirements.
Apart from HENSOLDT, we hold that we have strategically acquired technologies from firms in Israel, Europe, and the USA. As a result, we bring world-class capability into India while nurturing growth in our own intellectual property. This bidirectional exchange thereby strengthens the Indian aerospace ecosystem, enabling us to meet not only domestic needs for defence but also for the global market.
7. Challenges in Aerospace Manufacturing
LoS: What are the primary challenges Rangsons Aerospace faces in scaling up aerospace manufacturing to meet both domestic and international demand? How are you addressing issues related to supply chain constraints, skilled workforce availability, and technological infrastructure?
- Scaling aerospace manufacturing is about building capability, not just expanding capacity. One of the biggest challenges lies in developing a highly skilled workforce. Specialized processes like aerospace-grade welding cannot be fully automated, yet India has a limited pool of certified professionals in this field. To address this gap, we partnered with Boeing to establish an aerospace welding school and are now extending similar initiatives to avionics and precision manufacturing.
Another critical challenge is supplying chain constraints. Procuring aerospace-grade materials and components can be a time-consuming process, further complicated by global supply chain disruptions. To mitigate these challenges, we are diversifying our supplier base and investing in localized production capabilities, ensuring greater resilience and efficiency in our operations.
8. Future of SATCOM Technologies
LoS: With the rapid evolution of satellite communication technologies, especially concerning LEO constellations, how is Rangsons Aerospace planning to stay ahead in this domain? What innovations can we expect from your collaboration with Oversat in the near future?
PR: The development of satellite communications is on a trend toward LEO constellations, and Rangsons Aerospace has taken the lead in this transition. Our partnership with Oversat focuses on the development of next-generation SATCOM systems, which provide seamless high-speed connectivity for defence and critical infrastructures.
With satellite networks evolving, we seek to enhance adaptability with advanced beamforming techniques and AI-based network optimization. The intention is to develop intelligent, self-adjusting communication solutions that allow switching between satellites and guarantee connectivity even in the harshest environments.
9. Vision for the Next Decade
LoS: Looking ahead, what is your strategic vision for Rangsons Aerospace over the next ten years? How do you plan to navigate the dynamic aerospace and defence landscape, and what key milestones are you aiming to achieve?
PR: We have not just thought about the next five years; in fact, we are planning for the fifty to come. We aspire to move from a Tier-1 manufacturing partner to a global aerospace technology leader.
Indigenous research and development will serve as the guiding star of our strategy. We will develop an intellectual property rights regime in key aerospace domains so that India garners advantages beyond just manufacturing towards true innovation. Concurrently, we are building a global footprint by aggressively pursuing acquisitions in the US and Europe to make gains in our technology capabilities.
We are also expanding our manufacturing footprint, factoring in automation and advanced materials to cater to growth in demand from domestic and international customers. Aerospace is a long-term game, and we are building for the future-not just growth, but growth to change India’s role in the global aerospace landscape.
We are growing at a near hundred percent, and we are going to keep this momentum going. The journey in itself is ambitious, and that is what makes it exciting. Aerospace is about vision, precision, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence-and that is what we all are about at Rangsons Aerospace.
