Chennai, 7th January 2026:

Following the launch of its defence drone facility, Garuda Aerospace inaugurated its Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai and hosted Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).The DG highlighted the growing collaboration between India’s civil aviation regulator and the country’s rapidly evolving drone industry. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Bharat Drone Udaan event associated with the Bharat Drone Association at Garuda Aerospace Ltd Operation Centre.

The DG, DGCA also inaugurated the new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO). The expanded academic infrastructure is aimed at enhancing training capacity, strengthening curriculum delivery, and meeting the rising demand for certified drone pilots across key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management, and logistics. The Director General also unveiled the “Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book,” highlighting Garuda Aerospace’s journey, key milestones, and contributions to the evolution of Make in India drone technology. The book further showcases the impact of drone technology across rural and industrial India and reflects the company’s focus on responsible drone adoption, ecosystem building, and inclusive growth.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director, Garuda Aerospace, said,” 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. 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.”

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) addressed, “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.”

The drone battery manufacturing facility and the new academic block together mark a significant step in Garuda Aerospace’s mission to create an end-to-end, self-reliant drone ecosystem spanning manufacturing, training, and deployment to support India’s growing drone economy.