Announces Free Drone Training Programs for Widows of Soldiers
Chennai, India – August 24, 2025 – Following the successful launch of its Agridrone facility, Garuda Aerospace hosted Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Defence, for the inauguration of its Defence Drone Facility at Thalambur, Chennai on August 22, 2025. This landmark occasion underscores Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to advancing indigenous drone technology, strengthening India’s defence capabilities, and driving the nation’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Unveiling of Advanced UAV Systems
During the ceremony, Shri Sanjay Seth officially inaugurated the facility and unveiled five advanced UAV systems, each designed for critical defence and disaster response applications:
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Avalanche Victim Drone – for high-altitude search and rescue missions.
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Swarm Drone – enabling coordinated strike and surveillance capabilities.
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Jawan Drone – tailored for frontline soldier support and tactical operations.
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Canister Dropping Drone – for rapid battlefield payload deployment.
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Droni 2.0 – an upgraded multipurpose UAV for defence and civilian applications.
Launch of Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book
The Minister also launched the Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book, showcasing Garuda Aerospace’s journey, milestones, and contributions to India’s defence preparedness and drone technology evolution.
Defence Drone Lab & R&D Collaboration
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). The initiative aims to foster decentralised innovation for mission-specific requirements.
Training & Social Impact Initiatives
Garuda Aerospace also introduced several key initiatives:
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Free Remote Pilot Certification (RPC) Program for Indian defence personnel, with the first batch of Jawans receiving their certifications during the event.
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Garuda Akash Raksha Vans (GAR Vans) – mobile drone deployment, maintenance, and repair centres to support defence units nationwide.
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Free Drone Training Programs for Widows of Fallen Heroes, underscoring the company’s commitment to social impact and supporting India’s defence community.
Leadership Remarks
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said:
“Our mission is to make India self-reliant in defence drone technology. Secure indigenous production, accelerated R&D, and rigorous multi-theatre testing are imperatives to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty. By 2027, we aim for India to not only be prepared for the future of drone warfare but also to set global benchmarks in innovation and reliability.”
Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Defence, remarked:
“Today marks a historic step in India’s journey towards Atmanirbharta in defence and technology. This hub is not just about UAV manufacturing; it represents a complete ecosystem of design, R&D, incubation, certification, and production, integrating academia, industry, and defence. Inspired by the vision of Shri Rajnath Singhji at the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2024, this initiative showcases how indigenous innovation can meet modern defence needs while also supporting agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting such initiatives that safeguard our skies and position India as a future global drone hub.”
Foundation of Defence Park at Cheyyur
Furthering its role in India’s UAV growth, Garuda Aerospace announced the foundation stone laying of a Defence Park at Cheyyur, Tamil Nadu. Spread over 76 acres along the East Coast Road (ECR), the facility is envisioned as India’s most advanced indigenous hub for AI-powered, precision weaponized drone systems, fostering innovation, manufacturing, and testing.
About Garuda Aerospace
Garuda Aerospace is India’s leading drone tech start-up, disrupting Precision Agri Tech and Industry 4.0 sectors. Founded in 2015 with a team of five, it has scaled to a 200+ member team with the largest drone fleet in India (400+ drones, 500 pilots across 84 cities).
The company manufactures 30 types of drones and offers 50 services, serving over 750 clients including TATA, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, Flipkart, Swiggy, L&T, NTPC, IOCL, Survey of India, and international institutions like MIT Boston.
Recent collaborations include Lockheed Martin, Cognizant, and Elbit Systems. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji launched the Garuda Drone Yatra, where 100 drones were flagged off across 100 villages. Garuda is the first Indian drone company to secure DGCA approvals for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO).
Brand Ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested in the company, which is on a mission to positively impact 1 billion lives with affordable precision drone technology.
For more details, visit: www.garudaaerospace.com
