Aerolloy VAR titanium castings boost India’s aerospace supply chain

Aerolloy

Indian Aerolloy VAR titanium castings mark a major step in domestic aerospace materials capability. Aerolloy Technologies has commissioned a vacuum arc remelting (VAR) furnace at PTC’s Aerospace Precision Castings Plant in Lucknow. The Aerolloy VAR titanium castings will support aircraft engines, industrial gas turbines and other high-spec defence applications.

Aerolloy VAR titanium castings move India up the value chain

The new VAR furnace allows Aerolloy to melt and refine large titanium castings to demanding aerospace standards. This move reduces dependence on imported titanium components and strengthens India’s position in global engine supply chains. Crucially, Aerolloy VAR titanium castings provide near-net-shape parts, cutting machining time and lowering scrap rates.

Earlier this month, Aerolloy also brought a vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace online for superalloy castings. Together, VIM and VAR create an integrated melt route from alloy production to critical rotating and structural parts. As a result, Aerolloy can offer titanium and superalloy castings with tighter metallurgical control and better consistency.

Capacity figures for the new furnaces are undisclosed, but the strategic impact is clear. India now fields a more complete suite of advanced melt technologies previously concentrated in North America, Europe and Japan. This enhances resilience for engine OEMs seeking diversified, multi-regional sources of titanium and nickel-based superalloy castings.

Safran LEAP engine contracts underline export potential

Commercial traction is already emerging around the new melt shop. In March, Aerolloy signed a long-term purchase order with Safran Aircraft Engines. The deal covers seven cast engine components for CFM International LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B engines.

The Safran contract builds on earlier qualification in 2023, when Aerolloy was approved to develop and supply cast parts. Therefore, the new Aerolloy VAR titanium castings capability is anchored by real engine programmes, not just speculative capacity. This alignment with LEAP engines, a high-volume narrowbody workhorse, signals meaningful export potential.

In parallel, India’s defence and industrial gas turbine markets stand to benefit from localised casting capability. Domestic programmes can now source critical titanium castings and superalloy components without relying solely on imports. Over time, this may encourage further investment in upstream titanium sponge, alloy ingots and recycling to support a full circular ecosystem.

The Metalnomist Commentary

India’s quiet build-out of VIM–VAR casting capacity is reshaping the global map for titanium and superalloy supply. Aerolloy’s progress shows how targeted investments, paired with anchor orders from OEMs like Safran, can rapidly elevate a new hub into the aerospace tier-one conversation. The next strategic question is how fast India can complement these furnaces with deeper raw material and recycling infrastructure.