"We want to manufacture aircraft, not just fly them," says Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu

“India does not want to merely fly aircraft; we are determined to design them, manufacture them, maintain them and finance them,” Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said on day two of Wings India 2026 at Begumpet Airport on January 29, 2026, even as he acknowledged that aircraft manufacturing has long remained a bottleneck for the country. In the same way, we have to provide that lift to aviation industry,” he said, adding that India does not want to just fly far, but to fly together as an ecosystem. He described Wings India 2026 as the biggest and most comprehensive edition so far, reflecting the scale of opportunity and global interest. While acknowledging that manufacturing has historically been a weak link, Naidu said India has made “tremendous progress” in indigenous aircraft manufacturing in recent years. Highlighting Hyderabad’s aerospace ecosystem, he cited strengths in aircraft design, manufacturing, maintenance and training, particularly in engine repair facilities.