Garuda Aerospace and Naini Aerospace have formed a significant partnership in the Indian drone industry, marking a milestone in the country’s goal to manufacture 100,000 Made in India drones by 2024.
Garuda Aerospace, a prominent drone manufacturer, has joined forces with Naini Aerospace, a subsidiary of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under the Ministry of Defence, to establish a joint development partnership. The objective of this collaboration is to enable Garuda Aerospace to manufacture Advanced Precision Drones within India for various applications. The partnership signifies a major step forward in the Indian government’s vision of producing 100,000 Made in India drones by 2024.
The CEO of Garuda Aerospace, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, expressed great enthusiasm for the partnership, noting its alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Jayaprakash revealed that they have already received pre-bookings for over 7,000 drones, demonstrating the market demand and growth potential in the drone industry. He also emphasized the importance of partnering with government public sector units (PSUs) to leverage their knowledge and experience in scaling up production.
In recent times, Garuda Aerospace collaborated with BEML at Aero India to manufacture drones at their Mysore facility and launched an extensive indigenization campaign. The company aims to reduce dependence on foreign imports of drone parts, components, and subsystems by partnering with 120 local suppliers. By strengthening the domestic supply chain, Garuda Aerospace aims to contribute to the “Make in India” initiative and promote self-reliance in the drone manufacturing sector.
Naini Aerospace Limited (NAeL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HAL, brings its expertise in the production of aerostructures and aircraft loom manufacturing to the collaboration. NAeL was established in 2016 with the vision of sustainable manufacturing operations in the aerospace and aviation sector. The CEO of Naini Aerospace, RR Thakur, expressed excitement about working with Garuda Aerospace in the rapidly evolving drone sector. He highlighted NAeL’s proven capabilities and its contribution to the HAL Helicopter Division.
The collaboration between Garuda Aerospace and Naini Aerospace is strategically located in Uttar Pradesh (UP), allowing enhanced delivery and access to clients across various regions of India. The factory’s strategic location on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway, near Prayagraj city centre, ensures convenient transportation and cost efficiencies. Additionally, Naini, Prayagraj, is being considered for inclusion in the proposed defence industrial corridor of Uttar Pradesh, further amplifying the partnership’s potential.
