Friday, 13 June 2025
The indigenous agri-drone manufacturing facility aims to locally produce 7 subsystems and 33 parts, furthering the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Kamlesh Paswan, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s new Agri-drone Indigenisation Facility in Chennai, India. Additionally, the Minister also inaugurated 300 Centres of Excellence (CoE) and flagged off Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA approved Train the Trainer (TTT) program. Supporting this milestone launch were key members of the Bharat Drone Association (BDA). The launch also witnessed a dynamic live demonstration of Agri-Drones by highly skilled Drone Didis showcasing Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to fostering self-reliance and innovation within the burgeoning drone ecosystem.
Spread across 35,000 square feet Garuda Aerospace’s state-of-the-art Agri-Drone Indigenisation Facility is the country’s first of its kind hub for the design, manufacturing, and rigorous testing of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The new facility marks the expansion of Garuda Aerospace’s existing manufacturing unit and is a major leap in advancing drone manufacturing and skill development in India. The Indigenous Agri-Drone Manufacturing Facility aims to locally produce 7 subsystems and 33 parts, furthering the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Garuda Aerospace has been a strong advocate for local manufacturing. Additionally, the 300 Centres of Excellence will function as after-sales support service centres, generate employment opportunities and train the next generation of drone pilots.
The Train the Trainer (TTT) program on the other hand is Garuda Aerospace’s flagship skill building and development initiative which is designed to empower educators and professionals to become certified drone instructors. TTT extends comprehensive and hands-on training that encompasses UAS operations, maintenance, understanding and following safety protocols, in accordance with DGCA regulations. TTT’s specialized modules in teaching methodology ensures effective knowledge dissemination.
Additionally, the strategically located 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India in collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners will advance drone innovation, research, and skill development through a strong partner network. These initiatives collaboratively represent a transformative step toward building a robust, future-ready drone ecosystem in the country.
Union Minister praised Garuda Aerospace and its Founder and CEO, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, for their visionary efforts in making India self-reliant in drone technology. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of transforming India into a Global Drone Hub can truly be realized through the dedication of young entrepreneurs like Agnishwar and innovative companies like Garuda Aerospace. He also lauded the Bharat Drone Association for uniting local component manufacturers under one roof at the Indigenization Factory, a state-of-the-art facility capable of manufacturing over 1 lakh drones in the next two years. The Minister expressed his admiration, noting that he has never seen 2,000 agri-drones in a single location, as he witnessed at the Garuda Indigenous Manufacturing Facility—a remarkable feat showcasing India’s capability to lead in drone innovation and scale.
Thanking the Minister for his presence, founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, said “We had three monumental inaugurations in the presence of our Hon’ble Minister today including our milestone launch of the Indigenous Agri-Drone Facility, something we have been working on for a long time. Our Prime Minister Modi ji gave us a vision in 2022 to manufacture one lakh Made-in-India drones by 2026. We have delivered 4,000 drones so far and are confident we will achieve this target in the next two years. Our new facility is equipped to manufacture over 33 different parts and 7 subsystems; this reinforces our commitment to self-reliance. All of these efforts and initiatives have powered Garuda Aerospace to become one of India’s most valuable drone startups, with a fast-growing global footprint.”
