Why Industry 5.0 matters for India’s defence and how Aimtron is making it real

India’s defence industry is at an inflection point. With the ambition of achieving USD 25 billion in defence manufacturing by 2025, the urgency for self-reliance could not be clearer. The challenge is not just scaling production volumes but building an ecosystem that can design, prototype, and manufacture mission-critical systems domestically, with minimal reliance on imports.

Industry 4.0 was about automation and efficiency. Industry 5.0 puts people back at the centre of innovation—engineers and skilled professionals working with AI, robotics, and IoT to bring adaptability, speed, and security. For defence, this translates into rapid customisation, predictive maintenance, resilient supply chains, and hybrid production—all embedded in the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

Every system we build locally reduces dependency on imports and strengthens the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. For us, defence electronics is not just an industry—it’s a responsibility.

Founded in 2011 by Mukesh Vasani, Aimtron has grown from low-volume PCB assembly to high-volume prototyping and box builds, replicating US-grade, ITAR-compliant processes in India. With a Rs 100 crore greenfield facility in Gujarat and an R&D hub in Bengaluru, Aimtron balances automation with human-led oversight to deliver defence-grade electronics across UAVs, avionics, cyber defence, and tactical communications.

How is Industry 5.0 shaping India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem?

Industry 5.0 marks a paradigm shift from Industry 4.0’s focus on smart, automated technologies to a human-centric model that prioritises sustainability and resilience. It is about skilled engineers working alongside AI, robotics, and IoT to deliver precision, speed, and resilience. For India, this means accelerated customisation, predictive maintenance, and localised production models that cut import dependency. At Aimtron, we embrace this shift through advanced automation in India and the US, while ensuring human oversight drives adaptability, precision, and security.

Resilient supply chains are as critical as resilient weapons. By integrating box-build-to-delivery solutions domestically, we ensure sensitive technologies remain within trusted ecosystems.

What role is Aimtron playing in building indigenous, secure, high-performance defence electronics?

Since 2011, Aimtron has invested in capabilities critical to defence—PCB assembly, system-level box builds, and high-volume prototyping. By replicating ITAR-compliant processes in India, we enable indigenous manufacturing that meets global standards. Our journey from medical and industrial electronics, where tolerance for failure is zero, to defence has been deliberate. Supported by a strong engineering base and a zero-debt balance sheet, we are committed to advancing India’s defence autonomy.

What gaps are domestic ESDM players like Aimtron filling amid the USD 25 billion defence goal by 2025?

India faces challenges: dependence on imported subsystems, a limited base of Tier-1 system integrators, and fragmented supply chains. Aimtron is tackling these by investing Rs 100 crore in a greenfield facility with five SMT lines for advanced box-build assemblies, cutting offshore lead times by nearly 40%. Our AS9100-certified processes and competitive cost structures enable scalable, test-ready solutions for defence.

How are you balancing automation, AI, and human expertise at your facilities?

In Vadodara, our Industry 4.0-ready SMT lines deliver automated throughput. In Bengaluru, our R&D hub drives complex prototyping, diagnostics, and mission-specific customisation. Machines drive efficiency, but humans ensure oversight and innovation—capturing the true spirit of Industry 5.0.

How do you meet IPC Class III and export-compliant standards while keeping costs economical?

We meet stringent defence requirements through EMI shielding, GaN-based components, and rigorous testing—AOI, 3D SPI, X-ray, and functional tests. Localised production in Gujarat and Bengaluru, supported by PLI incentives, keeps costs competitive without compromising quality or security.

How are you supporting resilient domestic supply chains in sensitive technologies?

Aimtron reduces vendor dependency by offering integrated box-build-to-delivery solutions within ITAR-compliant frameworks. This accelerates timelines and ensures sensitive technologies remain in trusted ecosystems. With synchronised operations in India and the US, connected via Epicor Kinetic ERP, we ensure uninterrupted planning and production.

What is your roadmap for Industry 5.0: sustainable manufacturing, AI-led design, and human-centric innovation?

In the near term (2024–25), we are commissioning our Rs 100 crore greenfield facility, embedding automation with human oversight. In the mid-term, we will scale AI-led design and rapid prototyping in Bengaluru. Long term, we aim to deepen human–machine collaboration, strengthen domestic supply chains, and drive sustainable defence manufacturing.

aanchalg@cybermedia.co.in