JUNE 14: In a landmark moment for India’s drone technology sector, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, today inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s cutting-edge Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai. Alongside this, he also launched 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and flagged off the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved “Train the Trainer” (TTT) Drone Skilling Programme.
The event was attended by key representatives of the Bharat Drone Association (BDA), industry leaders, and enthusiastic participants who witnessed a live demonstration by the highly skilled “Drone Didis.” These demonstrations showcased Garuda Aerospace’s strong commitment to innovation, self-reliance, and skill development within India’s growing drone ecosystem.
Praising Garuda Aerospace and its Founder and CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash for their visionary leadership, Shri Kamlesh Paswan emphasized that India is making rapid strides towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming a global drone hub. He applauded the efforts of the Bharat Drone Association in unifying domestic component manufacturers under one roof at this indigenization factory. The facility, with its ability to manufacture more than 1 lakh drones over the next two years, represents a significant leap in India’s domestic manufacturing capabilities. The Minister highlighted his amazement upon witnessing 2,000 agri-drones assembled at one location, calling it an extraordinary display of India’s growing technological prowess.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash shared that since Prime Minister Modi’s 2022 call for producing 1 lakh Made-in-India drones by 2026, Garuda Aerospace has already manufactured 4,000 drones and is on track to meet the target within the next two years.
The newly inaugurated 35,000 square feet Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility is India’s first comprehensive hub dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and testing of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The expansion marks a significant milestone for Garuda Aerospace, contributing both to India’s manufacturing capabilities and workforce development.
The Train the Trainer (TTT) programme, a flagship initiative of Garuda Aerospace, aims to empower professionals and educators to become certified drone instructors, creating a vast skilled workforce ready to drive the drone sector forward.
Additionally, the establishment of 300 Centres of Excellence across India, in collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners, will further promote drone research, innovation, and skill-building nationwide.
