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Crown Defence has launched an indigenous Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly facility in Verna, Goa, under Aviatech Enterprises Pvt. Ltd (AEPL). The facility is aimed at enhancing domestic capabilities in high-reliability electronics for both defence and selected civil applications. The facility is designed to support mission-critical electronics across various sectors, including aviation, maritime, and industrial systems.

High-precision PCB assembly for diverse applications

It offers high-precision PCB assembly solutions for boards ranging in size from 80 × 80 mm to 460 × 460 mm, with a thickness capability between 0.4 mm and 8 mm, adhering to controlled edge clearance standards of 3–5 mm. Operational from March 2026, the facility meets reliability, consistency, and traceability standards essential for strategic programmes and is positioned to engage with both domestic and international projects.

The AEPL facility is more than just a manufacturing site; it serves as a strategic electronics capability hub to meet the rising demand for domestic PCB assembly solutions. The Indian PCBA market is currently valued at about US$ 6.3 billion, with a growth rate of nearly 16 percent CAGR, fuelled by increased demand in defence and industrial sectors. With over 1,000 items now covered under government import restrictions—many of which were previously sourced internationally—ensuring access to reliable domestic assembly capacity has become crucial.

Strategic importance

According to Vice Admiral (Retd) Paras Nath, the Group President of Crown, “Electronics availability increasingly determines platform readiness and upgrade cycles. Establishing in-country PCB assembly capability improves supply predictability and supports India’s broader objectives of reducing external dependencies across defence and critical civil sectors.”

Integration enhances quality and execution

Commodore (Retd) S.K. Iyer, Head – Aviation, Aviatech Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, added, “The Verna unit enables tighter integration between electronics assembly and downstream aviation support activities, enhancing quality control and execution timelines for modernisation, upgrades and sustainment programmes.”

Supporting long-term defence and industrial readiness

Crown Defence functions through specialised subsidiaries providing maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrades, and modernisation services in both defence and civil sectors. The integration of PCB assembly capabilities at AEPL enhances the group’s system-level sustainment strengths, furthering its commitment to supporting India’s long-term defence and industrial readiness.

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Established under Aviatech Enterprises, the group’s aviation vertical, the facility is designed to support mission-critical electronics across aviation, maritime and land systems.

Crown Defence has set up an indigenous Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly facility at Verna, Goa, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities in high-reliability electronics for defence platforms and select civil applications.

Established under Aviatech Enterprises (AEPL), the group’s aviation vertical, the facility is designed to support mission-critical electronics across aviation, maritime and land systems. According to the company, the unit will deliver high-precision PCB assembly solutions and is expected to commence operations in March 2026. It will be open for engagement with both domestic and international programmes.

The facility can support PCB assemblies ranging from 80 × 80 mm to 460 × 460 mm, with board thickness capability from 0.4 mm to 8 mm and controlled edge clearance standards of 3–5 mm. Crown Defence said the setup is aligned with reliability, consistency and traceability requirements typically associated with strategic and regulated programmes.

The company described the unit as a strategic electronics capability hub intended to address growing demand for domestic PCBA solutions. Industry estimates place the Indian PCBA market at around USD 6.3 billion, expanding at nearly 16 per cent CAGR, driven by defence, industrial and electronics manufacturing demand. With more than 1,000 items now covered under government import restrictions, including several PCB assemblies previously sourced overseas, access to domestic assembly capacity has become increasingly important.

Vice Admiral (Retd) Paras Nath, Group President, Crown Defence, said electronics availability is becoming a key determinant of platform readiness and upgrade cycles, adding that in-country PCB assembly capability could improve supply predictability and reduce external dependencies.

Commodore (Retd) SK Iyer, Head of Aviation at Aviatech Enterprises, stated that the Verna unit is expected to enable closer integration between electronics assembly and downstream aviation support activities, with the potential to enhance quality control and execution timelines for modernisation and sustainment programmes.

Crown Defence operates through specialised group companies providing maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrades and modernisation services across defence and civil domains. The addition of PCB assembly capability is expected to complement the group’s existing system-level sustainment portfolio and support broader defence and industrial requirements.

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