PTC Industries Limited has secured a design and development order from the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the development of a Titanium Cradle for the 105 mm Indian Light Weight Tank. The order marks a significant milestone for the company as it expands from precision manufacturing into the design and development of mission-critical defence components.
The Titanium Cradle is a key structural part of the tank’s armament system. It supports the main gun barrel and breech, provides mounting points for the recoil mechanism and recuperator, and transfers firing and recoil forces safely to the turret. The component is being developed for India’s indigenous Light Weight Tank programme, which is designed to deliver superior mobility and operational capability, particularly in high-altitude and mountainous regions.
Unlike conventional manufacturing contracts where customers provide complete engineering designs, this project requires PTC Industries to participate in the design, engineering, validation, and development of the component to meet demanding functional and performance requirements.
The project will leverage the company’s expertise in titanium metallurgy, precision manufacturing, advanced engineering, and systems integration. Titanium has become an increasingly preferred material for defence applications because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and excellent fatigue performance. These characteristics make it ideal for lightweight military platforms where reducing weight without compromising strength is essential.
The order strengthens PTC Industries’ integrated manufacturing platform, PTC ONE – From Melt to Mission™, which brings together advanced material production, precision investment casting, machining, special processes, quality assurance, and systems integration under a single manufacturing ecosystem. With the addition of design-led engineering capabilities, the company is further expanding its role in India’s defence manufacturing value chain.
Sachin Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of PTC Industries, said the contract represents an important step in the company’s evolution. He noted that the assignment goes beyond manufacturing and involves designing a mission-critical titanium component capable of meeting stringent operational requirements. According to him, the project demonstrates confidence in the company’s engineering capabilities and validates years of investment in advanced titanium materials, precision manufacturing infrastructure, and integrated production systems.
He added that lightweighting is expected to play an increasingly important role across future military platforms, including tanks, artillery systems, and other land-based defence equipment. Titanium alloys will be central to achieving these objectives by improving mobility, deployability, and operational efficiency while maintaining structural integrity.
The successful development of the Titanium Cradle is expected to create new opportunities for PTC Industries in future indigenous defence programmes that require lightweight, high-performance structural components. It also strengthens the company’s position as a strategic manufacturing partner for advanced aerospace, defence, space, and energy applications.
With more than six decades of experience in critical engineering, PTC Industries manufactures high-performance materials, precision components, and complex assemblies for demanding industries worldwide. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Aerolloy Technologies Limited, and its expanding facilities at the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor in Lucknow, the company is building integrated capabilities for titanium and superalloy production, including aerospace-grade ingots, billets, bars, plates, and machined components.
