Aadyah Aerospace: Self-Reliance in Space Engineering & Defense Tech – By Ritwaj Ranjan, Space News Contributor – India, Interplanetary.tv
Photo credit: – Video credit: Space Marketplace

Aadyah Aerospace, founded by Shaju Stephen in Hyderabad, is an emerging powerhouse in India’s aerospace and defense engineering landscape. Specializing in high-reliability satellite components, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced launch-support hardware, the company strives to enhance the nation’s self-reliance in strategic sectors. Under Shaju’s leadership, Aadyah Aerospace is helping shape India’s rapidly evolving space ecosystem — with innovation and precision engineering at its core.

Aadyah Aerospace was founded in 2016 by Shaju Stephen — an experienced aerospace engineer who recognized a growing need for indigenous engineering solutions across the aerospace and defense sectors. Initially a small R&D startup, Aadyah quickly established itself by delivering precision engineering work to DRDO laboratories and commercial defense players.

With an emphasis on innovation, quality, and self-reliance, the company invested heavily in building a talented team and setting up advanced in-house capabilities. By 2018, Aadyah had expanded into satellite subsystems — designing lightweight satellite bus structures and deployers that helped reduce launch costs for its clients. Aligning with India’s national initiatives like “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Aadyah Aerospace forged partnerships with both public- and private-sector players to advance indigenous satellite technologies.

By 2021, Aadyah Aerospace became a trusted supplier to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and several commercial satellite startups. Its engineering expertise enabled the company to contribute to critical mission hardware across communication satellites, Earth-observation platforms, and small defense systems. Under Shaju Stephen’s leadership, the company expanded its focus into autonomous aerial platforms and ground-station electronics, broadening its footprint in both civilian and military domains.

Aadyah Aerospace’s milestones:

Company Formation (2016): Established by Shaju Stephen to innovate in aerospace and defense engineering.

Specialized Focus: Expertise spanning satellite subsystems, aerostructures, avionics, and unmanned systems.

Early Partnerships: Initial contracts with DRDO and Indian defense labs for engineering solutions.

Growth and Expansion: Development of lightweight satellite bus platforms and modular payload components.

Strategic Clients: Serving both commercial customers and government organizations like ISRO.

Visionary Leadership: Under Shaju Stephen’s guidance, the company is scaling up to tackle larger, more complex projects.

Engineering and R&D Focus.

The company’s success lies in its highly collaborative engineering culture, where experienced engineers, scientists, and technicians come together to craft customized solutions. Key areas of R&D include Satellite deployers and structural components built to stringent weight and reliability requirements; Avionics and telemetry systems for seamless communication with satellites and drones; Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance; Launch support infrastructure that simplifies pre-launch testing, integration, and telemetry. Every Aadyah product passes through rigorous testing, simulation, and qualification protocols to ensure that it meets international quality and safety standards.

Advancing India’s Aerospace & Defense Sector

As a dynamic startup driven by a strong technical vision, Aadyah Aerospace plays a vital role in bolstering India’s self-reliance in strategic technologies. By producing indigenous components for both public and private missions — and by collaborating with research organizations — the company accelerates innovation across India’s broader aerospace ecosystem.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Shaju Stephen aims to establish Aadyah Aerospace as a world-class provider of deep-space mission hardware, satellite subsystems, and next-generation unmanned aerial technologies. The company is also pursuing global partnerships and advanced technology transfer programs to stay at the cutting edge of engineering innovation. With a commitment to excellence and a long-term vision, Aadyah Aerospace is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s ambitions — ensuring the nation’s position as a competitive player in the global aerospace and defense industries.

— Ritwaj Ranjan

About the Author.

Ritwaj Ranjan is a full-stack web and mobile applications software engineer from Bangalore, India, and, space news contributor to Interplanetary Television. With a strong foundation in frontend and backend development technologies, he has worked at Othor.ai and Bhopal. He has designed and deployed over 20 user-centric interfaces with React.js, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction scores. Ranjan has also led a team in website development, resulting in a 40% increase in client customization efficiency.