Chennai, India – March 6, 2025: Garuda Aerospace, India’s leading drone startup, has announced a strategic investment in Zuppa, a deep-tech company specializing in cyber-secure drones and advanced autopilot systems. This collaboration marks a major step toward enhancing India’s indigenous drone capabilities, aligning with the government’s vision of fostering cutting-edge, self-reliant defence technologies under the Make in India initiative.
Through this investment, Garuda Aerospace and Zuppa will drive innovation, expand market reach, and position India as a global leader in secure drone technology. As the only Indian company among a select few worldwide with proprietary deep-tech autopilot systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Zuppa brings unmatched expertise. The partnership focuses on joint development and market expansion, accelerating the deployment of next-generation drone solutions. While Zuppa leads in cyber-secure autopilot advancements, Garuda Aerospace will leverage its strengths in financing, operations, and customer acquisition to scale adoption.
Leadership Perspectives on the Collaboration
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment:
“At Garuda Aerospace, we are committed to leading India’s drone revolution by ensuring our technologies are not only cutting-edge but also secure and self-reliant. Our investment in Zuppa strengthens our defence capabilities and reinforces our vision of building a robust, indigenous drone ecosystem that caters to both domestic and global markets.”
Sai Pattabiram, Founder & Managing Director, Zuppa, highlighted the transformative potential of the partnership:
“India has the opportunity to become a ‘Global Hub for Secure Drones by 2030.’ However, achieving this requires a shift from assembling imported components to a structured, cooperative ecosystem similar to the aerospace and automotive industries. This collaboration sets a benchmark for future partnerships, driving the growth of the indigenous drone sector.”
Venkatesh Sai, Co-founder & Technical Director, Zuppa, underscored the synergy between the two companies:
“This partnership is a true win-win. While we focus on advancing autopilot and cyber-secure drone technology, Garuda Aerospace’s expertise in financing, operations, and market expansion will accelerate adoption across multiple sectors and geographies.”
A Transformative Shift in India’s Drone Industry
With the government’s strong push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and increasing strategic focus on defence and homeland security, Garuda Aerospace’s investment in Zuppa signals a new era for India’s drone industry. The company has also partnered with Tata Elxsi to establish a design and engineering center dedicated to developing indigenous drone technologies for defence, agriculture, and smart cities.
Further strengthening its commitment, Garuda Aerospace recently launched eight advanced drones for defence, safety, and logistics at Aero India 2025, showcasing state-of-the-art solutions for disaster management and military operations. In a key discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the company outlined its vision to become a market leader in defence drone technology within two years.
This investment in Zuppa reinforces Garuda Aerospace’s mission to propel India’s secure and self-sufficient drone ecosystem, paving the way for technological leadership on a global scale.
