Garuda Aerospace, India’s largest drone company, has unveiled its latest milestone in advancing the nation’s drone ecosystem. 

 

Following the success of its defence drone facility, the company hosted Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to inaugurate its new Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai. The event was part of the Bharat Drone Udaan, organized in collaboration with the Bharat Drone Association at Garuda Aerospace’s Operation Centre.

 

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai highlighted the growing synergy between India’s civil aviation regulator and the country’s rapidly evolving drone sector. 

 

“It is a pleasure to visit the Garuda Aerospace manufacturing facility. The range of drones being produced here is not only beneficial to our armed forces, but also to farmers and industry, and is being used across multiple applications. 

 

"Very few companies I have seen so far manufacture such a wide range of drones. Garuda Aerospace is taking indigenisation to the next level by producing critical components, assembling, and manufacturing them within the country. The students here, once they obtain their licenses and become certified RPTOs, will have a significant role to play in ensuring the growth of this industry, as drone applications are expected to expand exponentially.”

 

During the ceremony, Kidwai also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO). 

 

The expanded facilities will boost training capacity and prepare more certified drone pilots for sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management, and logistics. 

 

He also unveiled the “Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book,” chronicling the company’s journey, key milestones, and contributions to Make in India drone technology. The book highlights drone applications across rural and industrial India, underscoring Garuda’s focus on responsible adoption, ecosystem building, and inclusive growth.

 

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director of Garuda Aerospace, reflected on the company’s decade-long journey: “Over the last 10 years, Garuda Aerospace has been in agriculture technology and has evolved into India’s largest drone company, having manufactured over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 drone pilots."

 

"We were the first company to be approved by the DGCA for both drone manufacturing and training, and the first drone company whose clients received the first-ever AIF drone loan. 

 

"It is heartening to see the practical impact of progressive government initiatives and policies coming to fruition, including schemes where women’s self-help groups were provided agricultural drones to enhance livelihoods, the SMAM drone subsidy scheme, and the Production Linked Incentive for boosting indigenous manufacturing. 

 

"Our progress would not have been possible without the regulatory support and guidance of the DGCA, the Ministry, and officials who have supported the ecosystem. We remain committed to local manufacturing, following DGCA regulations, and working towards making India a global drone hub.”

 

The new drone battery facility, alongside the academic block, marks a decisive step toward Garuda Aerospace’s vision of an end-to-end, self-reliant drone ecosystem, spanning manufacturing, training, and deployment to power India’s growing drone economy.