Chennai, India – August 22, 2025 – Garuda Aerospace achieved a significant milestone in India’s defence technology advancement as Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, inaugurated the company’s cutting-edge Defence Drone Facility in Thalambur, Chennai. This landmark event reinforces India’s commitment to indigenous drone technology development and strengthens the nation’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in critical defence capabilities.
The inauguration ceremony marked a pivotal moment in India’s journey toward complete self-reliance in defence drone technology, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in unmanned aerial vehicle systems for military and civilian applications.
Revolutionary UAV Systems for Critical Defence Operations
During the ceremony, Minister Sanjay Seth officially unveiled five advanced UAV systems designed to address diverse operational requirements across India’s defence landscape:
Avalanche Victim Drone – Specialized for high-altitude search and rescue missions in challenging terrain conditions, equipped with advanced detection capabilities for disaster response scenarios.
Swarm Drone – Features coordinated strike and surveillance capabilities, enabling synchronized operations across multiple units for enhanced tactical effectiveness.
Jawan Drone – Specifically designed to support frontline soldiers with tactical operations, providing real-time intelligence and operational assistance in combat zones.
Canister Dropping Drone – Optimized for rapid battlefield payload deployment, ensuring swift delivery of essential supplies and equipment to strategic locations.
Droni 2.0 – The upgraded, multipurpose UAV platform designed for both defence operations and civilian applications, demonstrating versatility across multiple operational environments.
Each system represents significant technological advancement in indigenous UAV capabilities, addressing critical requirements identified by India’s defence establishment.
Comprehensive Ecosystem for Defence Innovation
The inauguration also featured the launch of the Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book, documenting Garuda Aerospace’s remarkable journey, key achievements, and substantial contributions to India’s defence preparedness and drone technology evolution.
Expanding its research and development capabilities, Garuda Aerospace announced the establishment of a Defence Drone Lab in strategic collaboration with the 13 JAK Rifles (Ladakh and Gwalior). This partnership aims to foster decentralized innovation for mission-specific requirements, ensuring rapid development of specialized solutions for diverse operational challenges.
Empowering Defence Personnel Through Certification Programs
The company introduced a comprehensive Free Remote Pilot Certification (RPC) Program specifically designed for Indian defence personnel. The inaugural batch of Jawans received their certifications during the event, marking the beginning of systematic drone operation training across India’s armed forces.
Additionally, Garuda Aerospace unveiled Garuda Akash Raksha Vans (GAR Vans) – mobile drone deployment, maintenance, and repair centers designed to provide comprehensive support to defence commands and units nationwide. These mobile units will ensure operational readiness and technical support across diverse geographical locations.
Social Impact Initiative for Defence Families
In a meaningful gesture of support for India’s defence community, Garuda Aerospace announced free drone training programs for widows of fallen soldiers. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to social impact and demonstrates tangible support for families who have made supreme sacrifices for national security.
Vision for India’s Defence Technology Leadership
“At Garuda Aerospace, our mission centers on making India completely self-reliant in defence drone technology,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace. “Secure indigenous production, accelerated research and development, and rigorous multi-theatre testing represent not just strategies, but essential imperatives to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty. By 2027, we aim to ensure that India not only prepares for the future of drone warfare but also sets global benchmarks in innovation and reliability.”
Ministerial Vision for Atmanirbhar Defence Technology
Hon’ble Minister Sanjay Seth emphasized the strategic significance of the facility: “Today marks a historic milestone in India’s journey toward Atmanirbharta in defence and technology with the inauguration of Garuda Aerospace’s world-class drone facility in Chennai. This hub represents more than advanced UAV manufacturing; it embodies a complete ecosystem integrating design, research and development, incubation, certification, and production while connecting academia, industry, and defence sectors.”
The Minister highlighted how the facility demonstrates indigenous innovation driven by young engineers and entrepreneurs, capable of meeting India’s modern defence requirements while serving civilian applications in agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure development.
Strategic Expansion with Advanced Defence Park
Cementing its role in India’s UAV growth trajectory, Garuda Aerospace announced the foundation stone laying for a state-of-the-art Defence Park at Cheyyur, Tamil Nadu. This ambitious project will serve as a comprehensive hub for drone innovation, manufacturing, and testing, fostering a robust ecosystem for defence-focused UAV solutions.
Spanning 76 acres along the East Coast Road (ECR), the Cheyyur facility is envisioned to become India’s most advanced indigenous hub for AI-powered, precision weaponized drone systems, further strengthening the country’s position in global drone technology leadership.
Building India’s Drone Technology Future
The successful integration of Agni College of Technology with Garuda Aerospace demonstrates how technical education, research capabilities, and industrial expertise can align with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. This collaboration ensures the development of niche technologies, maintains quality standards, and establishes global leadership in drone manufacturing and innovation.
The Ministry of Defence remains committed to supporting initiatives that safeguard India’s airspace, empower armed forces with advanced capabilities, and position India as a future global drone technology hub.
