Garuda Aerospace, one of India’s top drone technology companies, recently held a one-on-one meeting with Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to discuss the company’s role in advancing India’s defence drone capabilities. Known for its leadership in agricultural and consumer drone sectors, Garuda Aerospace is now focusing on expanding into the defence sector over the next two years.
During the meeting, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, detailed plans to establish a Defence Drone Facility in Chennai. This 30,000 sq. ft. facility will feature cutting-edge drone design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities. The facility will also focus on indigenous development and production of critical drone components, including motors, batteries, and transmitters. The company aims to develop advanced drones for defence purposes, such as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) drones, swarm drones, tethered drones, and underwater drones.
Jayaprakash said, “I had the privilege of meeting Hon’ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, who was very supportive of Garuda Aerospace’s vision to make India a global hub for drone technology by 2030. Our ‘Make in India for the world’ initiative was well-received, and we are committed to contributing towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.”
The conversation also emphasized the significance of defence drones in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for strengthening India’s armed forces with cutting-edge technology. Garuda Aerospace plans to play a pivotal role in turning this vision into reality.
Jayaprakash also briefed the Defence Minister on Garuda Aerospace’s recent partnerships with international companies such as Thales (France), Agrowing (Israel), and Spirit Aeronautics (Greece). These partnerships will facilitate technology transfer, enabling local manufacturing of drones, which will reduce costs and create employment opportunities for India’s youth.
Founded in 2015, Garuda Aerospace is India’s leading drone tech startup, focusing on revolutionizing two key sectors: precision agriculture and Industry 4.0. With a fleet of over 400 drones and a team of 500 pilots, Garuda operates in 84 cities across India. The company designs, builds, and customizes 30 types of drones and offers 50 different services.
Garuda Aerospace has served more than 750 clients, including major corporations such as TATA, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, Swiggy, and Flipkart, along with government bodies like the Survey of India and NTPC. It has also formed strategic partnerships with global leaders like Lockheed Martin, Cognizant, and Elbit Systems.
In a recent milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Drone Yatra, during which 100 drones were flagged off across 100 villages in India. Garuda Aerospace is the first company in India to receive DGCA approvals for both Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training.
With the support of cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has invested in the company and serves as its Brand Ambassador, Garuda Aerospace is on a mission to positively impact 1 billion lives through affordable and innovative drone technology.
