Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s New Defence Drone Facility

By Staff Report August 23, 2025 12:54 pm IST

Following the successful launch of its Agridrone facility, Garuda Aerospace hosted Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence, for the inauguration of its Defence Drone Facility at Thalambur, Chennai, on August 22, 2025. This occasion underscores Garuda Aerospace’s unwavering commitment to advancing indigenous drone technology.

During the ceremony, Sanjay Seth inaugurated the facility and unveiled five advanced UAV systems Avalanche Victim Drone-designed for high-altitude search and rescue missions; Swarm Drone- enabling coordinated strike and surveillance capabilities, Jawan Drone-tailored for frontline soldier support and tactical operations, Canister Dropping Drone- for rapid battlefield payload deployment and Droni 2.0- the upgraded, multipurpose UAV for defence and civilian applications each designed for critical defence and disaster response applications.

The Minister also launched the Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book, highlighting Garuda Aerospace’s journey, key milestones, and contributions to India’s defence preparedness and drone technology evolution. Further strengthening its research and development ecosystem, Garuda Aerospace announced the establishment of a Defence Drone Lab in collaboration with the 13 JAK Rifles (Ladakh and Gwalior) to foster decentralised innovation for mission-specific requirements. The company also introduced a Free Remote Pilot Certification (RPC) Program for Indian defence personnel, with the first batch of Jawans receiving their certifications during the event. Additional initiatives unveiled included the launch of Garuda Akash Raksha Vans (GAR Vans) mobile drone deployment, maintenance, and repair centres designed to support defence commands and units across the country and free drone training programs for the widows of fallen heroes, underscoring Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to social impact and support for India’s defence community.

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“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 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.” Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence.

Further cementing its role in India’s UAV growth story, Garuda Aerospace announced the laying of the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Defence Park at Cheyyur, Tamil Nadu. Designed to serve as a hub for drone innovation, manufacturing, and testing, the facility will foster a robust ecosystem for defence-focused UAV solutions. Spread over 76 acres along the East Coast Road (ECR), the Cheyyur facility is envisioned to become India’s most advanced indigenous hub for AI-powered, precision weaponised drone systems.