Garuda Aerospace, whose drone technologies are approaching the initial public offering stage, hosted General Major Gopal Kapur, Additional Director General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDO), at its defense drone manufacturing facility in Chennai on September 11th.
The main objective of the visit was to study the company's capabilities in localizing and producing indigenous systems, as well as to familiarize with current and future projects supporting India's drone ecosystem and defense sector.
During the visit, Garuda Aerospace presented its defense programs, manufacturing capabilities, R&D initiatives, and industry partnerships. The company also demonstrated its developing drone pilot training system through its Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs).
Proposals addressed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) were discussed, concerning the training of 80,000 Agniveer soldiers across all three services, alongside ongoing development projects.
The company showcased its 50,000 square feet manufacturing unit, which covers design, prototyping, production, testing, and deployment stages. This complex includes infrastructure for injection molding, industrial 3D printing, and battery assembly and testing. Garuda reported that the production base is supported by over 50 PhD researchers working in areas such as Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing, radio frequency antennas, communication systems, and ground control stations.
The DRDO team also reviewed Garuda's vulnerability checklist and testing processes, coordinating with authorized agencies to assess compliance with applicable defense standards. The visit highlighted the company's emphasis on localization, which is becoming a crucial part of India's efforts to develop domestic defense manufacturing.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, stated that collaboration between industry, government, academia, and the armed forces is vital for building a more self-reliant defense ecosystem. He emphasized that India's path to defense self-sufficiency requires strong interaction among these four spheres.
He added that the company remains committed to the government's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and India's ambition to become a global hub for domestic drone manufacturing and technology. The Additional Director General of DRDO, in turn, highly appreciated Garuda Aerospace's efforts to strengthen domestic drone production and acknowledged its investments in manufacturing infrastructure, technology development, and R&D.
The interaction also reinforced the focus on the principles of 'Design in India, Develop in India, and Manufacture in India,' with indigenization noted as a critical pillar of India's defense readiness. Garuda Aerospace positions itself as a drone technology startup specializing in precision agriculture and Industry 4.0, engaged in the design, creation, and customization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The company's collaboration with DRDO occurs amid the growing application of drone technologies in both civil and defense sectors. For Garuda, Chennai serves as a base for developing and manufacturing indigenous drone capabilities while expanding its role in India's growing defense technology ecosystem.