Agnikul Cosmos Commissions India's First Fully Integrated 3D-Printing Facility for Rockets.
CHENNAI, India – In a significant boost to India's private space sector, Chennai-based startup Agnikul Cosmos has commissioned the country's first fully integrated additive manufacturing (3D printing) facility dedicated to aerospace and rocket systems. The new hub, located at the IIT Madras Research Park, is poised to slash space manufacturing costs by 50% and enable the production of rocket components previously considered impossible to fabricate.
The facility is the first of its kind in India with the capability to 3D print single-piece aerospace components up to one meter in height. This advancement significantly expands the scope of additive manufacturing within the nation's space industry, allowing Agnikul to produce highly complex engine designs in a matter of days instead of months.
Revolutionizing Engine Production
The core of the facility's capability is the production of Agnikul's patented single-piece 3D-printed rocket engines. The company can now manufacture engines that are one meter tall and deliver seven times the thrust of its earlier designs.
"By developing not just printing capacity but also full-scale machines in-house, we are equipping ourselves to build space transportation systems faster," said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.
The facility encompasses an end-to-end production ecosystem, integrating design, simulation, printing, post-processing, and finishing under one roof.
Focus on Indigenous Innovation
A key feature of the new setup is an indigenously designed de-powdering machine, developed in-house to ensure space-grade quality for printed components. This reduces dependency on foreign technology and strengthens supply chain resilience.
Moin SPM, co-founder and COO of Agnikul, stated that the facility advances the company's launch readiness and helps establish "a self-sustaining and globally competitive space industry in India."
Building on a Historic Launch
This manufacturing milestone builds on Agnikul's achievement in May 2024, when it successfully launched the world's first rocket powered by a single-piece 3D-printed engine. That mission, from the company's private launchpad at Sriharikota, also marked several firsts for India, including the first semi-cryogenic engine launch and the first launch from a private launchpad.
Founded in 2017 and incubated at IIT Madras, Agnikul has raised $45 million in funding. The company is developing its Agnibaan launch vehicle, designed to carry small satellites to orbit on demand, with commercial operations planned for 2025.
