Garuda Aerospace, a prominent drone manufacturing company in India, has announced its plans to establish a dedicated defense drone facility near Chennai, aligning with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The move is not only a step towards enhancing India’s defense capabilities but also emphasizes self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) in defense technology. By producing defense-grade drones domestically, India can reduce its dependency on foreign suppliers and tailor technology to meet specific military needs more effectively.
The project has received endorsement from the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, indicating strong government backing. This support is crucial for navigating regulatory hurdles, securing defense contracts, and aligning with national security objectives.
The proposed facility would house the manufacturing capabilities for indigenous drone subsystem development and local manufacturing of critical components such as drone motors, batteries, and transmitters.
Garuda Aerospace is looking to develop drones with ISR capabilities besides swarm drones, tethered drones, and underwater drones, according to a company statement on Saturday.
Commenting on the interaction with the Defence Minister, company founder-CEO Agnishwer Jayaprakash said, “I had the privilege of meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Garuda Aerospace’s plan of Make in India for the world was also greatly appreciated by the Defence Minister, who gave his complete support to expand Garuda’s functions to enable Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
Jayaprakash also discussed the recent partnerships forged with Israel headquartered Agrowing and Greece-based Spirit Aeronautics.
“The interaction emphasized the crucial role of defense drone technology and the Prime Minister’s vision for the world. Garuda Aerospace will be at the forefront of enabling the Prime Minister’s and Defence Ministers’ vision for its armed forces,” he added.