• From Design to Delivery: AXISCADES Expands Its Aerospace Ambitions
  • Global Manufacturing, Strategic Partnerships and a Billion-Dollar Goal

By Sangeeta Saxena

Hyderabad. 05 July 2026. AXISCADES Technologies Limited is entering a transformative phase in its aerospace journey. Long recognised as a leading engineering services company, the organisation is now strategically repositioning itself to become a significant player in aerospace manufacturing, defence electronics and semiconductor technologies. Speaking exclusively to Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU) during Aeromart Hyderabad 2026, KP Mohanakrishnan, Dy CEO & President – Aerospace, discusses the company’s restructuring, manufacturing ambitions, international collaborations, export strategy, upcoming facilities and its vision of becoming a US$1 billion company by 2030.

ADU. AXISCADES has a prominent presence at Aeromart Hyderabad 2026. What are you showcasing this year?

KP Mohanakrishnan. AXISCADES has been in business for over two decades and today we have identified three strategic growth verticals—Aerospace & Defence, Electronics, Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, and our focused engineering capabilities. Over the past year, we have undertaken several strategic initiatives, secured significant orders across these verticals and repositioned the company to sharpen our customer focus. We have also restructured our engineering services business. Our non-aerospace engineering business has been fully divested to Acordis, while our aerospace engineering business has been reorganised through a joint venture in which Acordis holds 51% and AXISCADES retains 49%. The proceeds from these initiatives are being invested in aerospace manufacturing, defence electronics and semiconductor manufacturing across global markets.

ADU. Aerospace manufacturing appears to be your next major growth area. What are your plans?

KP Mohanakrishnan. Aerospace manufacturing is indeed our primary focus. We are pursuing an inorganic growth strategy by acquiring companies in Bengaluru and Europe and then building on those capabilities organically. We already have 20 acres of land in Devanahalli, where construction of our new aerospace manufacturing campus has begun. The project will be completed in phases, with the first phase expected by March 2027, while the complete campus is targeted for completion by the end of next year. Our existing defence activities at Electronic City will continue until all approvals for the new facility are in place.

ADU. Will your various business units eventually be consolidated into this new campus?

KP Mohanakrishnan. That is our long-term objective. Our defence electronics business will continue temporarily from Electronic City because of customer approvals. Our electronics and semiconductor business through Mistral will also be relocated. In addition, we have already commissioned another facility called Aeroland, spread over two acres with a three-storey building. This facility houses advanced test laboratories, clean rooms and customer-specific infrastructure. The transition of equipment is already underway and should be completed in the next few months.

ADU. How has Aeromart Hyderabad 2026 worked for AXISCADES?

KP Mohanakrishnan. Aeromart is fundamentally a manufacturing-focused event, making it the ideal platform for our new strategy. We already undertake manufacturing engineering, tool design and tooling for customers such as Mahindra and Dynamatics. Through our upcoming acquisitions, we are now expanding into component manufacturing as well. During the past two business days, we have had excellent pre-scheduled meetings with several major customers. I cannot disclose their names at this stage, but the response has been extremely encouraging. Having spent over 25 years in aerospace manufacturing, I also benefit from long-standing relationships within the industry, and together with AXISCADES’ own credibility, we are presenting a unique value proposition to customers.

ADU. AXISCADES also has a significant commercial aerospace portfolio. Could you elaborate?

KP Mohanakrishnan. Commercial aerospace continues to be a strong area for us through our engineering services business. We undertake repair engineering for aerospace customers and are now expanding into component repair. The important aspect is that the infrastructure we are creating is designed for dual-use applications, enabling us to serve both commercial aviation and defence customers. While certification requirements differ, the core capabilities remain common.

ADU. Your mission-critical solutions business is another important vertical. How is it evolving?

KP Mohanakrishnan. It is one of our strongest businesses. This year we are also introducing Space as a dedicated vertical. Many of the facilities we are developing will support aerospace, defence, electronics and space programmes simultaneously, although each domain will require its own certification. We understand these requirements and are building our capabilities accordingly.

ADU. Could you tell us about your collaborations with Indra, Thales and MBDA?

KP Mohanakrishnan. For Indra, we manufacture radar and antenna systems for both domestic and international programmes. With Thales, we have supplied test benches in the past. As for MBDA, discussions are progressing well and we expect to sign contracts shortly. We have been serving the defence sector for over two decades and are steadily expanding from component manufacturing to subsystem integration and eventually full system-level delivery. Some of the components we manufacture in collaboration with DRDO laboratories have already become approved parts within larger defence systems.

ADU. What are AXISCADES’ medium-term and long-term goals?

KP Mohanakrishnan. Our publicly stated objective is to become a US$1 billion company by 2030, driven by our strategic verticals. We already have a healthy business forecast covering systems and subsystem programmes that are expected to transition into production orders. FY2027 will be particularly important because it will establish the foundation for future growth. Last year was about defining our strategy, restructuring the business, divesting non-core operations and entering aerospace manufacturing. This year is about consolidation, while the following two to three years will be about scaling rapidly.

ADU. AXISCADES is visible at almost every major international aerospace exhibition. How important are exports to your business?

KP Mohanakrishnan. Exports have always been a major part of our business. Our engagement with global OEMs extends well beyond exhibition participation. Memoranda of Understanding are only the starting point—they must ultimately convert into long-term contracts. For example, the MoU we signed with a Portuguese company during the Paris Air Show for the design and manufacture of electrical wiring harnesses has already progressed into a formal contract. That demonstrates our ability to convert strategic partnerships into business opportunities.

ADU. How do you balance global OEM programmes with Indian defence projects?

KP Mohanakrishnan. We maintain a healthy balance. On the international side, we work closely with global defence OEMs and commercial aerospace companies while adhering to global quality standards. Simultaneously, we leverage our experience and capabilities to support Indian organisations such as DRDO, defence public sector undertakings and domestic industry. This balanced approach allows us to contribute both globally and nationally.

ADU. Finally, what philosophy drives AXISCADES as it enters this new phase of growth?

KP Mohanakrishnan. We are extremely conscious of the commitments we make—to our investors, customers, employees and every stakeholder. Our leadership team works cohesively to ensure those commitments are honoured. We want to create sustainable value for everyone associated with AXISCADES while attracting talented professionals and providing them opportunities to grow. Ultimately, business growth enables employee growth, customer satisfaction and investor confidence. That is the philosophy guiding our transformation.

As AXISCADES embarks on its next phase of growth, the company is clearly repositioning itself from a traditional engineering services provider to an integrated aerospace and defence manufacturing enterprise with global ambitions. Backed by strategic restructuring, new manufacturing facilities, international collaborations and a strong export orientation, the company aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem spanning engineering, manufacturing, defence electronics, semiconductors and space technologies. With its sights firmly set on becoming a US$1 billion company by 2030, AXISCADES is positioning itself to play an increasingly significant role in both India’s aerospace ecosystem and the global supply chain.