Chemistry alone does not determine material performance. Melting, forming, heat treatment and process control shape the finished material’s properties. A domestic grade may exist while the programme still depends on an imported material already cleared for service.
In October 2025, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), DRDO’s military airworthiness authority, cleared Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) superalloys, titanium alloys and special steels for series production in aero-engine applications at HAL Koraput.
In January 2026, DRDO separately recorded provisional clearances for seven MIDHANI grades for safety- and mission-critical components of the AL31FP engine powering the Su-30MKI. In April, MIDHANI reported further series-production clearances covering eight superalloy grades and forms, two titanium-alloy grades and forms and four special-steel grades and forms. More than 200 parts had been type-certified and supplied.
Qualification is specific to the material form, production route and application.
For critical defence materials, indigenisation closes when material from the Indian production route is cleared for use in the weapon.
