Aero India 2025 is well-known to be a gathering of eagles in the aviation circles. It offers unparalleled acces to one of the largest markets in the world.

It is then no surprise that RTX, the world’ largest aerospace and defence company– whose business include Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon– made an appearance in a bid to capitalise on opportunities presented by India.

In fact, Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX, has announced that it is making a big bet on the small- and medium-sized enterprises in India.

Launching the latest edition of its Powered by Collins Initiative at Aero India 2025, the company has invited small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in deep tech to collaborate on aerospace and defence technologies. This year’s focus areas include material informatics and quantum-enabled navigation, reflecting the industry’s increasing emphasis on advanced materials and next-generation positioning systems.

The company has also launched the Powered by Collins ecosystem on Switchpitch, an online platform that connects startups with enterprises, investors, and technology accelerators. The platform is expected to create a structured pipeline for innovation and foster deeper collaboration with Indian SMEs throughout the year.

Since its launch in 2023, the Powered by Collins Initiative has provided SMEs with targeted collaboration opportunities, offering funded, rapid-development demonstration projects aimed at integrating innovative technologies into active aerospace and defense programs.

RTX and Collins Aerospace’s continution of the initiative, as well as its latest expansion only go to show how important India, as an emerging hub for aerospace manufacturing and innovation, has become. It has also spotlighted the growing role of Indian SMEs in shaping the future of aviation and defence technology.

Aero India 2025, one of the region’s largest aerospace exhibitions, has served as a key platform for fostering industry partnerships, bringing together global defence leaders, government stakeholders, and technology providers to drive collaboration.

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Aero India 2025: Unit of world’s largest aerospace and defence company bets big on Indian SMEs