Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) of the United States have entered into a strategic collaboration to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in India for the country’s armed forces. The initiative aims to boost domestic defence manufacturing capabilities and advance India’s self-reliance goals under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programs.
Under this alliance, L&T will serve as the prime bidder for the upcoming 87 MALE RPAS program of India’s Ministry of Defence, while GA-ASI will act as the technology partner. The collaboration will focus on the production of GA-ASI’s combat-proven MQ-series RPAS, known globally for their reliability in intelligence, surveillance, and strike missions. These aircraft have accumulated millions of flight hours across various military operations worldwide.
The partnership leverages GA-ASI’s global expertise in unmanned aerial systems and L&T’s advanced manufacturing and system integration strengths in defence and aerospace engineering. Together, the companies will deliver state-of-the-art RPAS platforms that incorporate key technology transfers and meet indigenous content requirements outlined by the Government of India.
“This partnership gives India a major opportunity to produce world-class unmanned platforms within the country,” said SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director of L&T. “Working alongside GA-ASI, a global leader in unmanned systems, we aim to enhance the nation’s defence readiness while advancing our capabilities in aerospace technology and manufacturing.”
Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, added, “Partnering with L&T underscores our long-term commitment to India’s vision for self-reliance in defence. By combining GA-ASI’s proven platforms with L&T’s engineering excellence, we aim to deliver next-generation MALE RPAS solutions that strengthen India’s operational capabilities and defence ecosystem.”
With over 9 million flight hours, GA-ASI’s Predator® series, including the MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®, has set benchmarks in unmanned flight performance and multi-mission versatility. The new partnership represents a significant step in deepening Indo–U.S. defence collaboration, while fostering a globally competitive aerospace manufacturing base in India.
Larsen & Toubro, a USD 30 billion diversified engineering and infrastructure conglomerate, continues to reinforce its leadership across EPC, manufacturing, and services. With an established global footprint and a focus on high-quality execution, the company remains poised to capitalize on emerging opportunities across its core markets.
