• From ISRO Missions to BrahMos: Hindalco’s Strategic Aluminium Footprint
  • From Rockets to Warships: Hindalco Strengthens India’s Strategic Aluminium Base
  • Hindalco Brings Indian Aluminium to Space, Sea and Battlefield
  • From Renukoot to the World

By Sangeeta Saxena

Bengaluru. 10 September 2026. From launch vehicles soaring into space and missiles guarding India’s frontiers to naval platforms navigating its seas, aluminium is the silent strength behind some of the country’s most strategic programmes. At BSX 2026, Hindalco Industries showcased how its extensive capabilities in rolled products, extrusions, cast products and forging stock support India’s space, aerospace and defence ecosystems. Established in 1958, Hindalco began its industrial journey with India’s first integrated aluminium facility at Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, which commenced production in 1962. What started as an Indian aluminium enterprise has grown into the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group and one of the world’s largest aluminium rolling and recycling companies. Its global transformation accelerated with the acquisition of US-headquartered Novelis in 2007. Novelis’ acquisition of Aleris in 2020 further expanded the group’s presence in high-value aerospace aluminium, including advanced manufacturing capabilities in Germany. Today, Hindalco combines Indian production strength with an international technological and manufacturing network spanning aluminium, copper, specialty alumina, aerospace materials and recycling.

In an exclusive conversation with Aviation & Defence Universe (ADU), Siddharth Manjarekar, Global Stream Lead, Hindalco Industries, spoke about the company’s long association with ISRO, its engagement with private space ventures, its contribution to naval and land systems, and the growing synergy between Hindalco and its global subsidiary Novelis.

ADU. We are meeting at BSX 2026. What brings Hindalco to this important space industry event?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Hindalco is one of the sponsors of BSX 2026, and our association with India’s space sector now spans more than 25 years. We have developed a strong presence across the aluminium value chain and support the sector through three principal verticals. I represent the flat-rolled products business, while another vertical handles extrusions. We also have Hindalco Almex Aerospace Limited, our joint venture that caters to requirements for aerospace-grade cast products and forging stock. Together, these businesses allow us to address a broad spectrum of aluminium requirements within India’s space ecosystem. In addition, we draw upon the capabilities of Novelis, our overseas subsidiary, particularly its European operations, for specialised aerospace sheets and plates.

ADU. How deeply is Hindalco integrated into India’s space ecosystem?

Siddharth Manjarekar. We have been associated with the Indian space programme for many years and supply aluminium products across the ecosystem. Our engagement is not restricted to one organisation or one category of product. We work with the agencies, manufacturers and suppliers participating in India’s space programmes. We are also continuously developing new products and capabilities in response to requirements received from ISRO and other organisations. Our strength lies in being present across flat-rolled products, extrusions, cast products and forging stock. This makes Hindalco one of the few Indian aluminium companies capable of addressing such a wide range of space-sector requirements.

ADU. ISRO remains at the helm of India’s space programme, but private companies are now becoming important players. Are you engaging with them as well?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Yes. Whenever private space companies require aluminium products that meet ISRO or aerospace specifications, Hindalco is ready to support them. Companies such as Agnikul are part of this emerging ecosystem. Some companies, including Skyroot, may use a larger proportion of composite materials for specific applications. However, wherever aerospace-grade aluminium is required, we have the capability to participate. Our objective is to support the entire supply chain rather than limit ourselves to any single organisation.

ADU. Does Hindalco’s aerospace engagement extend beyond the space sector?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Certainly. Space is only one part of the larger aerospace and defence opportunity. Hindalco also supplies aluminium products for defence programmes, including BrahMos. Anything that flies requires lightweight, strong and dependable materials, and aluminium continues to be critical to such platforms. Through Novelis and its European operations, the group also has a presence in the supply chains of major global aerospace original equipment manufacturers, including Airbus and other aviation companies. At present, some specialised sheets and plates for international aerospace programmes are supplied from Germany. In India, our Aurangabad facility produces cast products used as forging stock and has developed important aerospace capabilities. We intend to expand our footprint as new opportunities emerge.

ADU. What role does Hindalco play in India’s naval shipbuilding programmes?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Naval applications require a different category of aluminium, including specialised non-heat-treatable alloys suited to the marine environment. Hindalco supplies aluminium material for platforms being built for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. We work either directly with the services or through the shipyards constructing these platforms. We have also entered into understandings with relevant stakeholders to support these requirements. It is a specialised field because naval aluminium must meet demanding standards of strength, fabrication and corrosion resistance.

ADU. How is Hindalco contributing to land-based defence systems?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Our aluminium products are used wherever land systems require specialised fabrication. This includes components connected with missile systems and the manufacturing activities of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board units.Yantra India Limited and some of its manufacturing facilities are important customers for us. These units fabricate aluminium components and structures for defence applications. Our role is focused on supplying the required aluminium material for these fabricated products rather than the explosives, propellants or ammunition-filling processes.

ADU. Sustainability has become an important part of advanced manufacturing. How is Hindalco incorporating recycling into its operations?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Recycling is a major part of Hindalco’s environmental, social and governance commitments. We are consciously working to recover scrap generated by customers and bring it back into the manufacturing cycle. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, which gives it a distinct environmental advantage. Recycling aluminium conserves resources, lowers the environmental footprint and allows valuable material to be used repeatedly without compromising its inherent properties. We are therefore working with customers to strengthen this circular ecosystem.

ADU. Which Hindalco facilities are supporting the aerospace and defence sectors?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Aurangabad is one of our important facilities for aerospace and defence products. We also draw upon capabilities at Alupuram in Kerala, Renukoot in Uttar Pradesh, Hirakud in Odisha and Belur near Kolkata. Different facilities contribute different products and capabilities to the overall value chain. The important point is that we possess a substantial manufacturing base within India. This is complemented by the international capabilities of Novelis, particularly for highly specialised aerospace-grade sheets and plates.

ADU. How does this combined Indian and international presence strengthen Hindalco’s proposition?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Hindalco acquired Novelis in 2007, and Novelis subsequently acquired Aleris. This expanded the group’s capabilities and provided access to advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities, including operations in Germany. We are now working to create greater synergy between Hindalco’s Indian manufacturing capabilities and Novelis’ international expertise. The aim is to bring together the strengths of both organisations and cater to as much of the aluminium requirement of the space, aerospace and defence sectors as possible.

ADU. How does Hindalco’s work contribute to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat?

Siddharth Manjarekar. Our contribution covers the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, ISRO, BrahMos, DRDO, defence manufacturers, shipyards and the former ordnance factory ecosystem. Wherever aluminium is required, we are working to increase the proportion manufactured and supplied from India. Every aerospace-grade sheet, extrusion, cast product or forging input produced domestically adds to India’s indigenous content. By expanding domestic capabilities and reducing dependence on imported material, Hindalco is contributing directly to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

ADU. With India’s space sector entering a new phase of growth, what opportunities do you foresee?

Siddharth Manjarekar. The growth of India’s space sector is now a given. We heard the same confidence from ISRO and other dignitaries at BSX 2026. As launch activity, satellite manufacturing and private participation expand, the demand for specialised aluminium products will also increase. Hindalco and Novelis are working together to combine their capabilities and support ISRO as well as the growing network of private partners. We want to address as much of the sector’s aluminium requirement as possible and remain an integral part of India’s space journey.

From ISRO’s launch vehicles and private-sector rockets to BrahMos, naval platforms and land-based defence systems, Hindalco’s aluminium footprint cuts across India’s strategic landscape. Siddharth Manjarekar’s message at BSX 2026 was compellingly simple. as India reaches higher into space and builds stronger capabilities on land and at sea, the demand for advanced aluminium will rise with it. With its Indian manufacturing network, global Novelis expertise and expanding recycling ecosystem, Hindalco is positioning itself not merely as a material supplier, but as the metal backbone of an increasingly self-reliant aerospace and defence nation.

As Told To Sangeeta Saxena