Garuda Aerospace, in collaboration with Naini Aerospace, a subsidiary of HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a joint development partnership to manufacture Advanced Precision Drones in India. This partnership marks a significant step towards fulfilling the Indian government’s vision of achieving 1 lakh (100,000) Made in India drones by 2024.
The drones developed under this partnership will have a payload capacity of approximately 25 kg, according to Garuda Aerospace. As a prominent player in the industry, Garuda Aerospace currently produces 30 different types of drones and offers 50 diverse services. Renowned cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is also an investor in the company, serves as its brand ambassador.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, the founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, expressed his confidence in the partnership by stating that their collaboration with Naini Aerospace, a subsidiary of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was a natural progression for them. He mentioned that their drone yatra had been incredibly successful, with over 7,000 drones pre-booked at Rs. 4.5 lakhs each. He further added that they were well on track to achieve the Prime Minister’s vision.
Jayaprakash emphasized the importance of collaborating with government public sector undertakings (PSUs) to leverage their expertise and knowledge in scaling up production. Garuda Aerospace has recently partnered with BEML at Aero India for drone manufacturing in their Mysore facility. Additionally, the company has initiated an extensive indigenization campaign and joined forces with 120 local suppliers to reduce reliance on foreign imports of drone parts and components.
RR Thakur, CEO of Naini Aerospace, expressed his excitement about working alongside Garuda Aerospace in the rapidly evolving drone sector. Naini Aerospace, a fully operational subsidiary of HAL, specializes in the production of helicopter structures and aircraft loom manufacturing. Their collaboration with Garuda Aerospace will contribute to the growth and development of the drone industry.
With the establishment of Garuda Aerospace in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the delivery and accessibility to clients across North, West, East, and Northeast regions of India will become seamless. The manufacturing facility is strategically located on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway, approximately 20 km from Prayagraj city center. The inclusion of Naini, Prayagraj, in the proposed defense industrial corridor of Uttar Pradesh is being considered, making it an advantageous location for this joint development partnership.
Furthermore, this collaboration is expected to result in cost reduction due to improved transportation convenience. The partnership between Garuda Aerospace and Naini Aerospace reinforces India’s commitment to developing indigenous capabilities in the drone manufacturing sector and strengthens the country’s position as a global player in the aerospace industry.