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Garuda Aerospace opens agri-drone facility and 300 centres of excellence
Industry News- Jun 17,25
This expansion of Garuda’s manufacturing capabilities marks a significant step forward in India's efforts to localise drone production. The facility is set to manufacture 7 subsystems and 33 parts, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Chennai
Kamlesh Paswan, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, on June 12, 2025, inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s new agri-drone indigenisation facility in Chennai. He also inaugurated 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and launched Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Train the Trainer (TTT) programme. The event drew key members from the Bharat Drone Association (BDA) and included a live demonstration by skilled Drone Didis, highlighting Garuda Aerospace’s role in advancing self-reliance and innovation in India’s drone ecosystem.
The 35,000 sq ft facility is India’s first integrated hub for design, manufacturing, and rigorous testing of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This expansion of Garuda’s manufacturing capabilities marks a significant step forward in India's efforts to localise drone production. The facility is set to manufacture 7 subsystems and 33 parts, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The 300 Centres of Excellence will provide after-sales services, create job opportunities, and train future drone pilots.
Garuda Aerospace’s flagship TTT programme empowers educators and professionals to become certified drone instructors. It offers comprehensive hands-on training in UAS operations, maintenance, and adherence to DGCA safety protocols. The curriculum includes modules on effective teaching practices to ensure impactful knowledge transfer.
The CoEs, strategically located across India, will partner with educational and industry bodies to boost drone research, innovation, and skill-building, further strengthening the ecosystem. These collective efforts represent a transformative push towards creating a robust, future-ready drone infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, Kamlesh Paswan said, “I have known Agnishwar for five years as a younger brother, but today I was deeply impressed by his leadership at Garuda Aerospace. Creating over 140 jobs is a commendable effort aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of youth empowerment through entrepreneurship. Witnessing women confidently operate drones, once confined to their homes, under the Drone Didi initiative was especially moving. I wish Garuda continued success.”
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, expressed gratitude and stated, “Today’s triple launch marks a major milestone. Since the Prime Minister’s 2022 vision to produce one lakh Made-in-India drones by 2026, we’ve delivered 4,000 and remain confident of meeting the target. Our new facility can manufacture 33 parts and 7 subsystems, reinforcing our self-reliance efforts. We are proud to grow as one of India’s most valued drone startups with a strong global reach.”
The Minister also praised Garuda Aerospace and Jayaprakash for their contribution to making India self-sufficient in drone tech. He reaffirmed that the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a Global Drone Hub is achievable through the efforts of innovative entrepreneurs like Agnishwar and companies such as Garuda. He also commended the Bharat Drone Association for uniting local suppliers at the facility capable of manufacturing over 1 lakh drones in two years. He noted his amazement at seeing 2,000 agri-drones in one place—an indicator of India’s scaling capabilities.
Garuda Aerospace benefits from several government initiatives including the Namo Drone Didi scheme, SMAM subsidy, and PLI. The company has supplied 450 out of 500 drones under Namo Drone Didi and is prepared to supply another 2,000. Garuda is India’s first drone company with dual DGCA certification for manufacturing and training. This all-in-one facility enhances its status as a national drone-tech leader.
With a strong focus on local manufacturing, skill-building, and innovation, Garuda Aerospace is making drone technology more accessible, affordable, and impactful—particularly for global agricultural needs.
Founded in 2015 with a five-member team, Garuda Aerospace has grown to over 200 employees and operates the largest drone fleet in India, with more than 400 drones and 500 pilots across 84 cities. The company designs and manufactures 30 drone models and offers 50 services, having worked with 750+ clients including Tata, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, L&T, Swiggy, Flipkart, Delhivery, NTPC, IOCL, and Survey of India. It has global partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems, and Cognizant.
Garuda was the first to receive DGCA approvals for both Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation. Its goal is to impact one billion lives through affordable precision drone technology. Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a shareholder and serves as brand ambassador.
Garuda Aerospace
Agnishwar Jayaprakash
Kamlesh Paswan
drone technology
Agri-Drone
DGCA
India
Bharat Drone Association
Atmanirbhar Bharat
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