India’s Aerospace Growth Needs AI, Skills & Sovereign Technology: Dassault Syst ...
As India accelerates its push to become a global aerospace and defence manufacturing hub, digital engineering, AI, and advanced virtual technologies are emerging as key enablers of this transformation. David Zeigler, Vice President, Aerospace & Defence, Dassault Systèmes, spoke to BW Businessworld about India’s growing aerospace ambitions, the shift from build-to-print to design-led manufacturing, the role of virtual twin technologies, and how AI-powered engineering platforms can strengthen India’s push for self-reliance, innovation, and sovereign industrial capabilities. Excerpts:India is rapidly emerging as a manufacturing hub, especially in aerospace and defence. During your visit, did you engage with policymakers or government stakeholders on this transformation?
Absolutely. This is a very significant moment for India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem. What we are witnessing is a broad transformation driven by the government’s long-term Make in India vision. Traditionally, aerospace manufacturing in India was largely dominated by the public sector, but now we are seeing a strong rise of private-sector participation, both in commercial aviation and defence manufacturing.
The aviation ecosystem itself is expanding rapidly. Airports are growing, air traffic is increasing at an extraordinary pace, and the sector requires continuous innovation and investment to sustain this momentum. Beyond manufacturing, India is also evolving from a “build-to-print” model toward a “build-to-specification” ecosystem, where engineering, design capabilities, and innovation become central to competitiveness.
This transition is extremely important because engineering excellence will define the next phase of India’s aerospace growth.
The Indian government has strongly pushed indigenisation and Make in India over the past few years. How is Dassault Systèmes contributing to this effort?
We certainly hope the government recognises our contribution because we are deeply invested in India’s growth story. Around 20 per cent of our global workforce is already based in India, and this includes not only sales teams but also research and development engineers, scientists, and technical experts working on advanced engineering solutions.
For us, Make in India is not limited to local manufacturing. It is about enabling India to become globally competitive. To achieve that, manufacturers need access to advanced digital technologies such as virtual twins, simulation environments, and collaborative engineering platforms.
These technologies help companies develop products faster, optimise manufacturing, and integrate into global supply chains. Our role is to accelerate India’s digital transformation and help Indian companies move up the aerospace value chain.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming central to aerospace and defence globally. How is your company approaching AI, especially in the Indian context?
AI in aerospace engineering goes far beyond large language models. What we believe in is something called “industry world models.” These models combine scientific understanding, engineering expertise, and industrial know-how.
For example, designing an aircraft is not just about generating text or automating tasks. It involves understanding aerodynamics, material science, manufacturing processes, operational behaviour, and safety requirements. AI must therefore be grounded in scientific and engineering knowledge.
Our focus is on enabling Indian companies, public-sector units, and private players to accelerate innovation using AI-powered engineering platforms. These technologies can reduce development cycles, optimise manufacturing, and help India create more sophisticated aerospace products.
Do you see any skill gaps in India that could affect the adoption of advanced aerospace technologies?
India has extraordinary talent. The challenge is not talent availability but preparing the workforce for the future of engineering. Today’s younger generation is digitally native, and they need the right tools and platforms to unlock their full potential.
That is why we work closely not only with industry but also with educational institutions. We invest considerable effort in bringing virtual twin technologies, model-based systems engineering, and advanced engineering software into universities and research centres.
The future aerospace workforce must be trained in digital engineering from the beginning. This is a critical factor for India’s long-term competitiveness.
Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform is widely discussed in the aerospace industry. How does it help India’s aerospace supply chain?
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables collaboration across the entire aerospace ecosystem. It connects everything — requirements management, detailed design, manufacturing, simulation, and operational data — within a single digital environment.
The key idea is simple: before building a product physically, you first create and test it in the virtual world. This is what we call the virtual twin.
When OEMs and suppliers collaborate on the same platform, the entire supply chain becomes more efficient. Companies can identify design issues early, optimise production, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation.
For India, where aerospace manufacturing ecosystems are rapidly expanding, collaborative platforms are essential to achieving global competitiveness.
India is currently facing supply-chain constraints, particularly in aircraft engines and critical components. How do you view this challenge?
Supply-chain disruptions are becoming a permanent reality across industries. A few years ago, the concern was titanium shortages. During COVID, it was electronics. Today, engines are a challenge. Tomorrow, it could be something else.
The future industrial environment will be increasingly volatile. That means manufacturers need not only virtual twins of products but also virtual twins of factories and supply chains.
By digitally simulating the supply chain in real time, companies can better anticipate disruptions, optimise sourcing, and adapt more quickly.
For India specifically, the larger issue is sovereignty. Programmes such as AMCA and broader indigenisation efforts reflect India’s aspiration to become more technologically self-reliant. Digital engineering platforms and workforce development are essential to building that sovereign capability.
Your company works with global aerospace giants such as Airbus and Safran. What role does Dassault Systèmes play in its operations?
We are fortunate to say that almost anything that flies today has been designed, simulated, manufactured, or operated using our solutions.
Companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Safran, and Dassault Aviation use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform extensively.
For Airbus, we support multiple business units and help them imagine next-generation aircraft. With Boeing, we work on current and future programmes. With Safran, we are supporting advanced engine concepts such as the RISE open-rotor engine.
Our role is to help these companies master complexity — whether it is fuel efficiency, lower emissions, electrification, or supply-chain optimisation.
Are you also collaborating with Indian aerospace and defence companies?
Yes, very actively. We work with defence public-sector units, private aerospace manufacturers, drone startups, and space innovators across India.
For example, we work with Raphe in the drone segment and GalaxEye Space, which is developing an innovative OptiSAR satellite combining optical and synthetic aperture radar capabilities. We are also working with companies involved in eVTOL platforms, aerostructures, and component manufacturing.
We are deeply embedded in India’s aerospace innovation ecosystem.
Does Dassault Systèmes play any role in the Rafale fighter aircraft programme?
The Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft is developed by Dassault Aviation, which uses the 3DEXPERIENCE platform extensively for the Rafale programme. The platform supports design, simulation, manufacturing, and programme management.
If Indian partners involved in the programme require advanced digital engineering capabilities, we are naturally ready to support them.
India’s airlines are expanding rapidly, with carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa placing massive aircraft orders. Could India eventually manufacture large commercial aircraft domestically?
India certainly has the ambition and the market scale to become a major aerospace manufacturing hub. However, competing with global players such as Boeing, Airbus, or Comac will take time.
The first phase of transformation will likely come through component manufacturing, aerostructures, and assembly operations. We already see examples such as the C295 programme in India.
Over time, these capabilities can evolve from build-to-print manufacturing toward more advanced engineering-led production. In the next five to ten years, India could make major progress, particularly in emerging segments such as eVTOL aircraft and regional aviation.
What policy or regulatory changes could further strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem?
The most important priority is skill development, particularly in model-based systems engineering. Modern aircraft are incredibly complex, and advanced engineering methodologies are becoming indispensable.
India should continue investing heavily in education, digital engineering tools, and workforce transformation. The widespread adoption of virtual twin technologies can significantly accelerate innovation.
The second important area is sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure. Aerospace and defence industries require secure data environments, sovereign cloud capabilities, and domestic AI ecosystems. Investments in data centres and sovereign digital infrastructure will therefore be extremely important.
What is your broader message to India’s aerospace and defence industry?
India already has strong government support, funding momentum, and a clear industrial vision through Make in India. The next step is digital transformation.
Some manufacturers still rely on older-generation systems because labour costs in India remain comparatively low. But global competitiveness today is driven by technology adoption, not labour arbitrage.
The adoption of platform-based engineering, virtual twins, model-based systems engineering, AI, and cloud technologies is no longer optional. It is essential if India wants to compete at a global level.
Finally, could you explain the evolution of Dassault Systèmes’ virtual twin and 3DEXPERIENCE philosophy?
Forty years ago, aircraft were still being designed on paper. Our first major breakthrough was enabling engineers to create digital models of products using software such as CATIA.
One of the landmark moments was the development of the Boeing 777, the first commercial aircraft designed entirely in the digital world. Engineers could visualise clashes between systems, optimise configurations, and collaborate globally in real time.
Later, we evolved into Product Lifecycle Management, where the focus expanded beyond geometry to include manufacturing processes, operational behaviour, maintenance, and supply-chain coordination.
Today, we combine virtual twins of products, factories, and supply chains into what we call the “3D UNIVERSES.” AI is now taking this further into what we describe as the “Generative Economy,” where engineering knowledge and industrial experience can automatically generate optimised designs and manufacturing processes.
This is the future of aerospace engineering, combining science, simulation, AI, and industrial knowledge into one integrated digital ecosystem.
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