Former ISRO Chief S Somanath has emphasized the significant global demand for Indian rockets but highlighted a critical shortage of manufacturing capacity that limits India’s ability to meet this demand. Speaking at the Accel Advanced Manufacturing Summit in Bengaluru on August 5, 2025, he pointed out that while Indian rockets and spacecraft exhibit advanced technology, they are often custom-built, lacking the mass production infrastructure needed to scale output rapidly. Somanath called for concentrated tooling and manufacturing hubs to consolidate expertise in areas like tooling processes, metallurgy, and automation, similar to models in countries like China. He also noted the current dependence on a few firms for component manufacturing, with final assembly still centralized at ISRO. Addressing these gaps by developing a skilled workforce, promoting industrial collaboration, and fostering an extensive aerospace manufacturing ecosystem is essential for India to capitalize on the expanding commercial space market. Additionally, India is expanding its launch infrastructure with projects like the third launch pad at Sriharikota, set for completion in 2029, to support next-generation vehicles and increased launch capacity. Several states, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, are emerging as specialized manufacturing hubs focused on satellites, payloads, and launch vehicles to bolster the country’s space ambitions. These efforts collectively aim to achieve self-reliance and scale in aerospace manufacturing to meet escalating international demand.