Aadyah Aerospace
Aadyah Aerospace is a private company engaged in developing critical subsystems for rockets and satellites, serving both the space and defense sectors. Aadyah’s capabilities include design and fabrication of composite rocket motor casings, satellite structures, propulsion components, guidance and control systems etc. The company functions as a boutique engineering outfit – it has executed projects like manufacturing carbon-fiber reinforced propellant tanks and mechanisms for ISRO satellites, and developing a prototype air-breathing scramjet engine combustor under a DRDO contract. Aadyah also provides R&D services to international aerospace firms (e.g. building and testing scale models of propulsion systems). With an experienced leadership of ex- ISRO and industry experts, Aadyah plays the role of an innovation-driven supplier, contributing to Make- in-India in space tech. It won National Award for Tech Innovation in 2018 for its work on spacecraft separation systems.
Launch Vehicle Subsystems: Aadyah designs and manufactures components such as stage separation systems, valve assemblies, composite motor cases, and control actuators for rockets. Notably, it developed an indigenous payload separation system tested for a PSLV-class vehicle (to reduce reliance on imports).
Satellite Systems: It produces structural panels, antenna deployment mechanisms, reaction wheel mounts etc., for satellites – for instance, it supplied parts for a 2022 European smallsat mission through a contract.
Prototyping & Testing Services: Aadyah has in-house capability for 3D printing metal alloys, CNC machining, composites layup and runs an aerodynamics lab. It offers these to DRDO and HAL for defense tech (one project involved a mini UAV launcher development).
Aadyah is also an official supplier for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, contributing hardware for astronaut training simulations.
Meet the Team
Founders
V. Sunderarajan (Co-founder & CEO) and Dr. Pradeep Kumar (Co-founder & CTO) are the key founders. Sunderarajan Varadan is an aerospace industry veteran (ex-Director of SENER’s India operations) with deep program management experience. Dr. Pradeep Kumar is a retired Group Director of ISRO’s VSSC (rocket center) with 40+ years in propulsion. They teamed up to start Aadyah with the aim of building world-class aerospace components in India.
Other Team Members
Shaju Stephen - Chairman & MD, provides business leadership (with background in industrial manufacturing). Sabu Joseph - Director of People & Culture, ensures talent and training (significant because Aadyah works on cutting-edge projects requiring specialized skills). The technical team boasts former ISRO engineers in structures and thermal. After the 2019 fundraise, Seraphim Capital (UK) added an advisor on the board, linking Aadyah to global space supply chains.
