Following the success of its Agridrone facility, Garuda Aerospace hosted Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence, to inaugurate its Defence Drone Facility at Thalambur, Chennai on 22 August 2025. The event underscores Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to advancing indigenous drone technology, strengthening India’s defence capabilities, and supporting the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
During the ceremony, Sanjay Seth inaugurated the facility and unveiled five advanced UAV systems: Avalanche Victim Drone for high-altitude search and rescue, Swarm Drone for coordinated strike and surveillance, Jawan Drone for frontline soldier support, Canister Dropping Drone for rapid battlefield payload deployment, and Droni 2.0, an upgraded multipurpose UAV for defence and civilian applications.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said:
At Garuda Aerospace, our mission is to make India self-reliant in defence drone technology. Secure indigenous production, accelerated R&D, and rigorous multi-theatre testing are not just strategies, they are imperatives to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty. By 2027, we aim to ensure that India is not only prepared for the future of drone warfare but is also setting global benchmarks in innovation and reliability.
Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence, said:
Today marks a historic step in India’s journey towards Atmanirbharta in defence and technology with the inauguration of Garuda Aerospace’s world-class drone facility in Chennai. This hub is not just about manufacturing advanced UAV systems; it represents a complete ecosystem of design, R&D, incubation, certification, and production integrating academia, industry, and defence. Inspired by the vision articulated by Shri Rajnath Singhji at the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2024, it demonstrates how indigenous innovation, driven by young engineers and entrepreneurs, can meet India’s modern defence needs while also serving civilian applications in agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure. The synergy between Agni College of Technology and Garuda Aerospace highlights how technical education, research, and industrial capability can align with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat to build niche technologies, ensure quality standards, and create global leadership in drones. The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting such initiatives that safeguard our skies, empower our armed forces, and advance India’s position as a future global drone hub.
The minister also launched the Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book highlighting Garuda Aerospace’s journey, milestones, and contributions to India’s defence preparedness. Garuda announced a Defence Drone Lab in collaboration with 13 JAK Rifles (Ladakh and Gwalior) to foster decentralised innovation for mission-specific needs. The company introduced a Free Remote Pilot Certification Program for Indian defence personnel, with the first batch of Jawans certified at the event, and launched Garuda Akash Raksha Vans mobile drone deployment, maintenance, and repair centres along with free drone training programs for widows of fallen heroes.
Expanding its role in India’s UAV ecosystem, Garuda Aerospace laid the foundation stone for a Defence Park at Cheyyur, Tamil Nadu. Spread over 76 acres along the East Coast Road, the park will serve as a hub for drone innovation, manufacturing, and testing, aiming to become India’s most advanced centre for AI-powered, precision weaponised drone systems.
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