• From ISRO to Rolls-Royce: Godrej Aerospace’s Journey into Global Aviation
  • Looks Skyward with Expanding Global Engine Manufacturing Capabilities
  • Built in India, Trusted Worldwide: Godrej Aerospace’s Aviation Journey

By Sangeeta Saxena

Farnborough. 24 July 2026. Few names in Indian industry command the trust, respect and admiration that Godrej does. For more than 125 years, the Godrej Group has been synonymous with engineering excellence, innovation, nation-building and uncompromising quality. While millions of Indians associate the brand with household products and consumer goods, another equally remarkable story has quietly unfolded in the background—one that has helped power India’s space programme and is now increasingly contributing to global aerospace manufacturing.

At the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) spoke exclusively with Ramesh K. Sankarannair, Deputy General Manager – Marketing, Godrej Aerospace, Godrej Enterprises Group, to understand how the company is leveraging decades of precision engineering expertise to become a trusted manufacturing partner for some of the world’s leading aero-engine manufacturers. From aircraft engine components and flight control actuators to complex fabrication, tubing and ducting systems, Godrej Aerospace is steadily expanding its global footprint while building upon a legacy that began with India’s space programme and now extends to the world’s foremost aviation OEMs.

ADU. Godrej Aerospace has a prominent presence here at the Farnborough International Airshow. What are you showcasing this year?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. We are primarily focused on showcasing Godrej Aerospace’s aero-engine manufacturing capabilities. Alongside that, we are displaying our work on hydraulic line replaceable units (LRUs) such as flight control actuators, as well as our capabilities in tubing, ducting and complex fabrications, including brackets and other precision-engineered structures. Our display is essentially focused on demonstrating what we can manufacture for the global aircraft industry.

ADU. This is the fourth day of the airshow. How has your experience been, and what kind of response have you received?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. The response has been very encouraging. The footfall has been good, and we’ve had the opportunity to interact directly with most of our existing customers. This is actually the first time that Godrej Aerospace has set up its own stand at the Farnborough International Airshow, and it has made a significant difference. Instead of discussing our capabilities only through presentations, customers can now see the actual complex aerospace components that we manufacture. Seeing the parts physically creates a much stronger impression and helps customers appreciate the level of engineering and precision involved.

ADU. Could you explain to our readers where these components are used? Are they supplied to defence forces, aircraft manufacturers or engine manufacturers?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. Our primary focus is on the civil aviation sector. The engine components that we are displaying—including ducting, tubing, complex fabrications and brackets—are manufactured for civil aircraft engines. Our customers are among the world’s leading aero-engine manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce and Safran Aircraft Engines. These companies are our long-standing customers, and we work closely with them on their engine programmes. So, our focus is really on supporting the global aircraft engine industry.

ADU. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in aviation, particularly with the growing use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Does that require any changes in your manufacturing approach?

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Ramesh K. Sankarannair. The products that we manufacture are essentially built-to-print. The customer provides us with the engineering design, specifications and drawings, and we manufacture exactly according to those requirements. Any design changes associated with Sustainable Aviation Fuel or other technological developments are incorporated by the customer into the engineering drawings. Our responsibility is to manufacture precisely according to those approved designs and specifications. So, we are essentially meeting the customer’s engineering requirements exactly as defined in their drawings.

ADU. Could you explain some of the components displayed here?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. This particular component is a combustor liner—the section of the engine where the actual combustion of fuel takes place. We also manufacture the intermediate casing and the flow path liner. For one important Indian engine programme, we are manufacturing the complete range of modules—from the fan, compressor, combustor, turbine right through to the exhaust system. At the exhibition, we have displayed three of the key components from that programme.

ADU.  Besides engine components, what other aerospace products is Godrej Aerospace displaying here?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. In addition to aero-engine components, we are displaying a flight control actuator, which is part of a hydraulic flight control system. We are also showcasing complex fabricated structures, particularly for Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, along with various tubing, ducting and precision-fabricated components that form an integral part of modern aircraft engines.

ADU. Are these components meant for specific aircraft such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer or ATR?

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Ramesh K. Sankarannair. The components we supply to Rolls-Royce are primarily used on large twin-aisle commercial aircraft. Since the engines are supplied by the engine manufacturer to different aircraft OEMs, these components eventually find their way onto aircraft operated by both Airbus and Boeing, depending on which aircraft platform uses that particular engine. We know broadly which aircraft programme the engine supports, but the relationship between the engine manufacturer and the aircraft OEM remains their domain. Our responsibility is to manufacture the components exactly according to the engine manufacturer’s approved drawings and specifications.

ADU. Where are your manufacturing facilities located?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. At present, all our aerospace manufacturing facilities are located at Vikhroli, Mumbai. However, we are now expanding significantly through a new manufacturing facility at Khalapur near Mumbai. We expect the transition to begin towards the end of this year or early next year, once all the required statutory approvals, occupancy certificates and regulatory clearances have been obtained. This expansion represents an important milestone in strengthening our manufacturing capability for the future.

ADU. This is Godrej Aerospace’s first independent presence at the Farnborough International Airshow. Does it reflect a stronger focus on the international market?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. We have actually been working with global aerospace customers for quite some time. Our export journey began in 2005, initially with one or two customers, and over the years we have steadily expanded our customer base. Today our export business is primarily focused on aircraft engine components, along with tubing, ducting and complex fabricated structures. These remain our core areas of expertise in the international aerospace market.

ADU. How do you see Godrej Aerospace’s future growth strategy?

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Ramesh K. Sankarannair. Our immediate focus continues to remain on aircraft engines, complex fabrication, tubing, ducting and precision-engineered aerospace structures. As we continue expanding our capabilities, we also intend to move into additional product domains such as actuation systems and other high-precision machined aerospace components. We see this as the natural progression of our aerospace journey.

ADU. Godrej has a long association with India’s space programme. Has that experience contributed to your aerospace business?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair. Absolutely. Our history in precision engineering began through our work on space engines for ISRO. That experience laid the foundation for our aerospace capabilities. Moving into aircraft engines has therefore been a natural extension of our expertise in precision engineering and high-performance propulsion systems.

ADU: The branding here mentions both Godrej Aerospace and Godrej & Boyce. Could you clarify the organisational structure?

Ramesh K. Sankarannair.  Godrej Aerospace is part of the Godrej Enterprises Group. Within that structure, Godrej & Boyce is one of the principal companies, and Godrej Aerospace functions as a business unit of Godrej & Boyce. So it would be appropriate to describe us as the Aerospace Business of Godrej & Boyce, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group.

ADU  Finally, would you like to leave a message for the aerospace community gathered here at Farnborough?

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Ramesh K. Sankarannair. This has been a very exciting experience for us because it is the first time that Godrej Aerospace has exhibited independently at the Farnborough International Airshow. Having physical products on display has enabled us to showcase our manufacturing capabilities much more effectively than presentations alone ever could. We certainly look forward to participating in future international aerospace exhibitions, including the Paris Air Show, while continuing our regular participation at Aero India. As our capabilities continue to expand, we hope to present an even broader and more comprehensive showcase of what Godrej Aerospace can offer to the global aerospace industry.

The Godrej Legacy: A Name That Inspires Trust

For well over a century, the Godrej Group has been one of India’s most respected industrial institutions. Founded in 1897, the Group has built an enduring reputation for quality, innovation and ethical business practices across sectors as diverse as engineering, aerospace, defence, consumer products, real estate, agriculture and security solutions. Its contribution to India’s industrial development mirrors the country’s own journey towards self-reliance. In aerospace and strategic manufacturing, Godrej has earned particular distinction through decades of partnership with ISRO, manufacturing critical components for India’s launch vehicles and space missions. Today, through Godrej Aerospace, that heritage of precision engineering is being extended into global aviation, where the company supplies complex aero-engine components to some of the world’s leading engine manufacturers. The Godrej name continues to inspire confidence among customers, governments and industry partners alike—standing not merely for manufacturing capability, but for reliability, integrity and engineering excellence.

Godrej Aerospace has emerged as one of the quiet yet significant contributors to India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem. Building on decades of precision engineering expertise developed through its long-standing partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the company has steadily expanded into the defence and aviation sectors, manufacturing complex aero-engine components, flight control systems, precision assemblies and critical aerospace structures. Its capabilities today span aircraft engines, hydraulic line replaceable units (LRUs), complex fabrication, tubing and ducting, serving both indigenous programmes and leading global OEMs. As India accelerates its Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives in defence and aerospace, Godrej Aerospace is playing an increasingly important role by combining world-class manufacturing standards with indigenous engineering excellence. Its growing participation in strategic defence programmes, civil aviation supply chains and international aerospace partnerships reflects the company’s evolution from a trusted engineering enterprise into a key enabler of India’s ambitions to become a global aerospace manufacturing hub.

Godrej Aerospace’s presence at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 reflects the steady evolution of one of India’s most known engineering enterprises into a globally recognised aerospace manufacturing partner. Building upon decades of experience supporting India’s strategic space programme, the company today manufactures sophisticated aero-engine components, hydraulic systems, tubing, ducting and precision-fabricated structures for some of the world’s leading engine manufacturers. Its first independent exhibition at Farnborough marked more than a trade show appearance—it symbolised growing confidence in India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities and Godrej’s ambition to deepen its engagement with global OEMs. As the company expands its manufacturing footprint, strengthens export relationships and diversifies into advanced aerospace systems, Godrej Aerospace is demonstrating that Indian engineering excellence is increasingly finding its place at the heart of the world’s aviation industry.

As Told To Sangeeta  Saxena