Drones

Noida, 30th July, 2024: Thales and Garuda Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the development of the drone ecosystem in India. This collaboration aims to foster innovation and to advance the development of technological solutions that can enable safe and secure drone operations and help the growth of drone-based applications in India. In addition to its broad expertise in the field of UTM solutions for the seamless management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight authorisations, Thales offers a range of radar and sensors for high-performance UAV detection, as well as being experienced in system integration. Garuda Aerospace, known for its expertise in the Indian market, is a leader in UAV manufacturing, and has extensive knowledge of the production of high-tech UAVs and service applications. Established in 2015, Garuda Aerospace is a key player in the Indian drone sector, catering to the diverse needs of the industry. The company focuses on building advanced drone solutions for the armed forces, in collaboration with global giants in the defence and aerospace sectors. It also has a vast fleet of over 2500 drones and 4000 pilots across 400 districts. Thales is recognised around the world for its expertise in aerospace and UAV solutions. From design and development to implementation and maintenance, Thales has built end-to-end solutions for drone integration and the development of advanced UTM systems. The company works closely with civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers to deliver strategic UTM capabilities, including registration, authorisation and geo-awareness, while ensuring that incremental capabilities, such as aircraft tracking and deconfliction, can be added in the long term. The MoU aims to transform the Indian drone landscape, and will come into effect in August 2024. Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director, Thales in India, stated: “The government is providing a robust foundation for the drone ecosystem, fostering opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth. We are proud to partner with Garuda Aerospace in paving the way for the development of advanced UTM systems in India by leveraging our extensive global experience and expertise in aeronautical solutions. This collaboration aligns well with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision, and seeks to support India in realising its ambition to become a major global hub for drones by 2030.” Speaking on the partnership, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Thales in driving technological innovations for the development of drones and drone-based applications in India. Ever since Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji launched 100 Garuda drones in 100 Villages, we have scaled and cemented market dominance in the precision agri drone segment where 50% of agri drones in India is Garuda’s. Equipped with the largest fleet in India coupled with Thales’ UTM technology and their worldwide experience, Garuda Aerospace will aim to revolutionize the drone sector and play a key role in the transformation of India into a global drone powerhouse.”

MELBOURNE, Fla. 15th July, 2024: Eve Air Mobility ( will be providing an update on several key program milestones at the 45th Farnborough Air Show next week. Coming off its recent announcement of $94M in new equity to support development of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Eve has continued to attract new equity. Along with existing cash and credit lines, Eve is well positioned as the company continue to build momentum and advance in the development and manufacturing of its eVTOL. Prior to the show beginning, Eve’s CEO, Johann Bordais will be updating the industry on the company’s program development including several key program milestones. In addition to making several announcements at the show, Eve will showcase its eVTOL cabin mock-up visitors to Eve’s display will be able to take a virtual flight on its eVTOL utilizing virtual reality glasses. With the advanced air mobility industry’s largest pre-order book of 2,900 units for its eVTOL, and potential service contracts worth up to $935M, not including Vector – the company’s innovative urban air traffic management software, Eve will provide program updates related to its first full-scale prototype. “For the past several months, Eve has been sharing updates on the progress of our prototype. The Farnborough Airshow is an excellent opportunity to update and show the market that Eve has made significant progress towards creating a safe, sustainable and efficient advanced air mobility industry,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “We have matured our eVTOL program, and we believe that we are on the way to successfully building, certifying and delivering the right aircraft for the market.” Eve’s eVTOL design is focused on passenger comfort and safety while also prioritizing the business economics of the operators through optimization of characteristics such as dispatch reliability. It utilizes eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly in cruise mode, with no change in the position of these components during flight. The configuration includes an electric pusher powered by dual electric motors that provide propulsion redundancy, ensuring high performance and safety levels. While offering numerous advantages, including low operation costs and optimized structures and systems, it has been developed to offer efficient thrust with a low sound footprint. Concurrently, Eve continues to develop a comprehensive portfolio of agnostic services and operations solutions to ensure our customers operate efficiently and profitably.

Bangalore, 3rd May 2024: Flying Wedge Defence, operating in the Indian defence and aerospace technology sector, unveiled FWD-200B, India’s first indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft in Bengaluru today. The company projects to reduce India’s reliance on costly bomber unmanned aircrafts imports further boosting the Make in India initiative. The company aims to position India as a global drone manufacturing & technology hub while equipping the nation with the right air defence resources and enhancing national security. Speaking on the occasion, Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder of Flying Wedge Defence & Aerospace, highlighted, “For over 15 years, India’s pursuit of combat unmanned aircraft remained a distant dream, despite significant investment and repeated attempts by DRDO with projects like Tapas and Rustom ending in failure. Today, with the launch of the FWD-200B, India not only fulfills this dream but also joins the league of nations with advanced combat aircraft capabilities.” “While the US Predator costs a staggering 250 crores, our indigenous FWD-200B, built with state-of-the-art technology and manufactured in India, slashes the cost to a mere 25 crores. This not only demonstrates our commitment to self-reliance but also positions India as a leader in cost-effective defence solutions”, he added. The Flying Wedge Defence’s manufacturing unit where the FWD-200B was meticulously crafted, is over 12000 sq.ft built on 1.5 acre land and is located at Electronic City. The FWD-200B has a payload capacity of 100 kgs and is classified as a MALE Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (medium-altitude, long-endurance). The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) consists of optical surveillance payloads and is integrated with missile-like weapons for precision air strikes. While having a max speed of 200 kts/370 kmph, it has an impressive endurance capacity of 12-20 hours. The FWD-200B can carry a maximum take-off weight of 498 Kgs in addition to this, it holds a ground control station (GCS) range of 200 kms. FWD- 200B, a revolutionary bomber UAV claims not only to act as the nation’s eagle eye but also to be the shield for the nation from above.

Everett, WA, U.S.,22 April, 2024: magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution has announced that Harbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase 50 magni650 electric engines. magniX’s electric propulsion units (EPUs) will be used to electrify Harbour Air’s fleet, beginning with the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in 2026. The magni650s will also be used for third-party conversions. The agreement is a milestone in electric aviation and a significant next step in the industry-leading partnership between magniX and Harbour Air. In December 2019, the two companies made history when the eBeaver, a Harbour Air De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver retrofitted with a magniX electric engine, became the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft to take flight. To date, the prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft. Electrifying the Skies magniX is pioneering electric aviation, having powered historic flights by five different aircraft. Alongside the eBeaver, these include Eviation’s all-electric commuter airplane, Alice, and the world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft, Universal Hydrogen’s retrofitted De Havilland Dash 8. “Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet with magniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight,” said Riona Armesmith, Chief Technology Officer of magniX. “The many flights that the eBeaver has now completed with magniX’s technology demonstrate that the electric age of aviation is here and bringing it to the marketplace is growing rapidly closer. As we mark Earth Day, we recognize the urgency of solutions such as this in answering the climate challenge.” “We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future”, says Bert van der Stege, CEO of Harbour Air. “The agreement with magniX underscores our commitment to revolutionize commercial aviation with electric propulsion and to pave the way for cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.”

Bangalore, 15th April 2024: Bengaluru-based aerospace components manufacturer, JJG Aero, has secured $12 million (Rs 100 crore) in inaugural funding from CX Partners. The funds will be used primarily for increasing its manufacturing capacity at its new facility, further vertical integration and other corporate initiatives. Established in 2008, JJG Aero specializes in manufacturing build-to-print high-precision machined components, with in-house special process finishing capabilities. While the Company is primarily focussed on building its business in commercial aerospace segment, its diverse capabilities are put to use with its customers in automotive and industrial segments. The Company’s prestigious clients include marquee American & European OEMs and Tier-1 vendors. “We have spent the last decade in building best-in-class capabilities, processes, compliance standards, customer relationships and obtaining requisite approvals and certifications, and we are now in the right place to grow rapidly. The aerospace supply chain is facing all-time high demand from aircraft manufacturers, which the legacy vendors in the Western world are struggling to meet. The global geopolitical issues, economic stability and Government support make India ideally placed to benefit from this. With our strengths and value proposition, we see ourselves emerging as a key player in the aerospace ecosystem. India has emerged as an attractive destination for sourcing components and parts by global leaders and we are excited to be selected by so many marquee clients as a strategic growth vendor” said Anuj Jhunjhunwala, CEO, JJG Aero. “We are thrilled to invest in JJG Aero, our first in this segment. JJG Aero has demonstrated remarkable growth, with a CAGR of 35% over the last three years. This investment will enable JJG Aero not only to continue on its growth path through capacity addition but also upgrade quality of earnings by focusing on higher value-added components. Indian businesses have proven ability to provide high quality products and services as an outsourcing partner to their customers. With strong industry tailwinds, we believe that aero-parts and component manufacturing is emerging as one more segment in India’s manufacturing outsourcing story. With its foray into manufacture of aero-engine components, we believe JJG Aero is well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities andfurther solidify its presence in the market.” – Vivek Chhachhi, Managing Partner, CX Partners From simple 2-axis to complex 5-axis machining, JJG Aero offers a wide range of manufacturing services, complemented by over 30 NADCAP-approved special processes, including electroplating, anodizing, paint, and NDT. Moreover, the company provides assembly, testing, and other value-added services to its esteemed client base. JJG Aero has 3 fully integrated manufacturing facilities in the Bommasandra-Jigani area, near Bangalore,in Karnataka, ably run by a team of 700 people. JJG Aero is setting up an additional facility dedicated to the aerospace segment.

SINGAPORE,19th Feb,2024: Eve Air Mobility and Yugo Global Industries, a Singapore-based aviation company, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study the potential for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL flights in Southeast Asia. Yugo is a private aviation network established by aviation experts, with a global presence and a focus on Southeast Asia. In its mission to support regional Air Mobility innovation, Yugo benefits from the support of partner Air Transport operators such as PhilJets and Helistar, two of the region’s solid key players. Together, Eve and Yugo will specifically focus on the potential infrastructure requirements to support eVTOL operations including regulations. The companies will also analyse service center and vertiport size and capabilities, ground handling and other areas as needed. “We are looking forward to collaboratively working with Yugo to study and help define the UAM ecosystem in Singapore and Southeast Asia,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “Our goal is to also understand and define a business model that not only enables eVTOL flights in the region, but also advances the overall mobility ecosystem.” “We strongly believe that Southeast Asian economies will greatly contribute to the development of the eVTOL and UAM industry,” said Thierry Tea, Chairman of Yugo. “Our collaboration with Eve will offer valuable insights into the essential requirements for regional air mobility development.” Eve has been very active and committed to helping introduce Urban Air Mobility in the Asia Pacific region. The company is already working with various key stakeholders across the region to collaboratively build the ecosystems and explore future operations in multiple countries. As Eve supports the exploration of eVTOL development in Southeast Asia, the region’s aviation infrastructure is rapidly advancing. The Philippines is constructing the New Manila International Airport by San Miguel Corporation, while OCIC Group is building Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Techo International Airport (TIA), set to open in 2025. To reduce carbon emissions, these modern and sustainable new airports, including Phnom Penh’s TIA designed by Foster and Partners, are exploring charging stations and flight routes for flying taxis and electric jets. Singapore is the first mover in Southeast Asia for UAM and this can provide neighboring countries a template to support further ecosystem development in the region. For instance, OCIC Group, is partnering with Changi Airport and Singapore Airline Engineering. The ongoing innovation and progress in emerging countries stand to gain from eVTOLs, next-gen aircraft and evolving infrastructure. Yugo’s commitment is to support regional eVTOL innovation and its network includes Southeast Asian operators such as PhilJets in the Philippines and Helistar in Cambodia. Eve has continued to advance the development of its eVTOL aircraft. The company has begun construction of its full-scale prototype and is on schedule to begin testing the aircraft in 2024. Featuring a lift+cruise design to minimize moving parts and reduce potential cost of ownership, Eve’s eVTOL features eight lift rotors to assist in takeoff and landing and one push rotor for cruise. With a range of 100km (60 miles) and traveling at speeds of 100 knots, Eve’s aircraft currently leads the industry with 2,850 orders. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in 2026. In addition to developing its eVTOL aircraft, Eve will offer its customers instant access to an existing worldwide network of service centers through its relationship with Embraer, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aircraft. The company is also developing a range of solutions to ensure that it is able to support its customers on Day 1 ranging from flight operations solutions and network optimization to data management and eVTOL health monitoring. “These types of collaborations and agreements are a critical first step toward pursuing eVTOL flights. We are looking forward to working with Yugo and other key stakeholders as we begin this project,” said Bordais.

The global commercial drone services market is anticipated to achieve a valuation of US$ 5.8 billion in 2023. Over the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2033, the market is poised to demonstrate a noteworthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%, ultimately reaching US$ 23.0 billion by the conclusion of 2033. Commercial drone services have experienced widespread adoption across diverse industry verticals, including energy, construction, agriculture, real estate, and others. The market’s growth has been spurred by the increasing registration of commercial drones and governmental endorsements for drone utilization in commercial applications. Key services provided by commercial drone service providers encompass inspection, mapping & surveying, delivery, spraying & seeding, photography & filming. The market has witnessed substantial demand for package delivery, particularly driven by the robust development of the e-commerce industry. Moreover, the cost and time efficiency offered by drones, compared to traditional methods in inspection, mapping, filming, and similar applications, is expected to generate lucrative opportunities for market expansion. Key Insights from Market Analysis: 1. The energy and construction sectors collectively account for over 30.0% of the demand share in the commercial drone services market. 2. The market is projected to experience a CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period (2023-2033). 3. North America is anticipated to lead the market, contributing to 29.0% of the total market share. 4. Regionally, the demand for commercial drone services is expected to witness growth at CAGRs of 15.1% and 15.7% in Europe and East Asia, respectively. “Infrastructure development to exhibit the demand for commercial drone services,” says a Fact.MR analyst. Market Advancements In the commercial drone services sector, the business landscape reflects a consolidation trend amidst intense competition. Key industry players are adopting both organic and non-organic strategies, exemplified by AeroVisionz’s introduction of aerial drone photography and videography services, to establish a significant presence in the market. Moreover, these players are actively expanding their customer base by targeting various end-users and regions. With a significant surge in the registration of commercial drones, the demand for commercial drone services is experiencing notable fragmentation in the region. In the United States, the registration count has reached approximately 870,389 drones by 2022, with around 38% being designated as commercial drones. The country showcases a growing trend of technological advancements and widespread adoption across diverse industry verticals. E-commerce giants such as Amazon are actively spearheading initiatives to introduce drone package delivery services, aiming to provide cost-effective and time-efficient delivery solutions in the region. Additionally, online food delivery platforms are strategically venturing into the use of commercial drones for delivering food, further contributing to the overall growth of the market in the country. Competitive Scenario Prominent players in the commercial drone services market include Aerial Drone Solution, Aerial Vision Ltd., AERIUM Analytics, Aerodrome, Aero Enterprises, Astral Aerial Solutions, Celestis, Cyberhawk, Dronegy, DJM Aerial Solutions, Drone Base, Drone Dispatch, Drone Evolution, DDC Smart Inspection, EagleHawk, and Enterprise UAS. The market exhibits a high level of competition as drone services gain increasing popularity across various industry verticals. Key market participants are strategically launching new services and engaging in mergers and acquisitions to maintain competitiveness. This trend contributes significantly to the substantial growth observed in the commercial drone services market. Notable instances include: 1. In April 2022, Wing, a prominent drone delivery company in the United States, introduced the pioneering commercial drone delivery services in the country. 2. In September 2022, Valqari made strategic strides by acquiring IDU Group, aiming to establish a drone delivery infrastructure for mail, packages, and other items using drone technology. Key Companies Profiled Key suppliers of commercial drone services around the world include Aerial drone solution, Aerial Vision Ltd, AERIUM Analytics, Aerodrome, Aero Enterprises, Astral Aerial Solutions, Celestis, Cyberhawk, Dronegy, DJM Aerial Solutions, Drone Base, Drone Dispatch, Drone Evolution, DDC Smart Inspection, EagleHawk, Enterprise UAS etc. (These insights are based on a report on Commercial Drone Services Market by Fact.MR.)