She Was 14 When a Fighter Jet Inspired Her. Today, She's Building Materials for India's Aerospace Future! At 14, Samridhi Shoor encountered a machine that would shape her ambitions: the SR-71 Blackbird. The American reconnaissance aircraft could fly at more than three times the speed of sound. Its extraordinary performance fascinated her, particularly the engineering that allowed it to survive extreme temperatures. Years later, that fascination would lead her towards one of aerospace engineering's toughest challenges: developing materials that can survive where ordinary metals fail. In 2022, Samridhi and Varun Dev Shoor founded Aegion Aerospace in Sonipat, Haryana. Their mission was to develop high-performance alloys and coatings for aircraft engines, rockets, defence equipment and nuclear systems. Consider what happens inside a jet engine. As temperatures rise, metals gradually lose strength. Components face immense mechanical stress, oxidation and corrosion. A small material failure can have catastrophic consequences. Engineers therefore rely on specialised superalloys, often containing nickel or titanium, to keep these machines operating safely. But sourcing such materials can be difficult. Samridhi has described procurement lead times stretching six to twelve months, leaving manufacturers dependent on a concentrated international supply chain. Aegion began developing its own materials to address this challenge. Its portfolio includes nickel- and titanium-based superalloys, advanced ceramics, intermetallic materials and protective coatings. The company claims some of its materials can operate in environments approaching 1,150°C, while its specialised coatings aim to improve component durability. Its progress has attracted institutional attention. Aegion entered the European Space Agency's UK Business Incubation Centre programme for 2024–2026. It also secured investment led by Rebalance and reported a growing multi-crore order pipeline across aerospace, energy and critical infrastructure. An interesting milestone came through India's Ministry of Mines. A government committee approved ₹1.09 crore in proposed support for Aegion's project to manufacture specialised powders used in hard, wear-resistant industrial coatings. For India, the implications extend beyond aerospace. Domestic expertise in advanced metallurgy could strengthen supply chains for defence manufacturing, space propulsion, nuclear energy and industrial machinery. Yet producing these materials consistently, qualifying them for critical applications and scaling manufacturing will take years of patient engineering. Samridhi's childhood fascination began with an aircraft that pushed the limits of engineering. Today, she's working on the materials that could help future Indian machines push those limits further. Which critical technology should India prioritise developing domestically next?