T Suvarna Raju, chairman and MD, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), has called for indigenisation of advanced materials for success of the aerospace industry in India. Raju said, “Indigenisation of advanced materials is key to aerospace manufacturing in India. When it comes to aerospace raw material be it aluminium, titanium, plastics or composites there is a wide capability gap in the country and therefore the private sector must come forward to boost aerospace manufacturing in the country.” He averred that this could be achieved by taking strategic materials research in mission mode in niche areas such as electronic materials, advanced high temperature alloys for propulsion systems and composite material. The HAL chief also called for synergy between efforts of various governments and non-government establishments in defence, space and atomic energy to ensure that resources were not wasted through duplication. He stressed on two-pronged strategy to fulfill the ‘Make in India’ concept through strengthening of R&D activities.