India continues to strengthen its domestic drone ecosystem, with a growing focus on building not only airframes in-country, but also the components that power them. That trend was highlighted this week as Garuda Aerospace inaugurated a new Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai, alongside an expansion of its DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation.
The announcement comes at a time when governments worldwide are taking a closer look at drone supply chains and technology sourcing. In the United States, recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) actions have accelerated a push toward secure, domestically controlled manufacturing and component sourcing. India is advancing a similar goal through its “Make in India” and Production Linked Incentive initiatives, encouraging manufacturers to localize production and reduce reliance on foreign parts.
Garuda Aerospace’s new facility reflects that shift toward deeper industrial self-reliance within the drone sector.
The inauguration was led by Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), during a ceremony held January 7, 2026, at the company’s operations center in Chennai. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Bharat Drone Udaan program and the Bharat Drone Association.
According to the company, the new battery manufacturing capability is designed to support an “end-to-end, self-reliant drone ecosystem,” strengthening India’s ability to produce critical components domestically while scaling deployment across agriculture, infrastructure, defense, disaster response, and logistics.
DGCA Chief Highlights Indigenous Manufacturing Momentum
During the visit, Kidwai also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation, expanding classroom capacity and curriculum delivery to meet rising demand for certified drone pilots across the country.
He noted the breadth of drone platforms and applications emerging from the facility, calling attention to the company’s efforts to move beyond assembly and into component-level production.
“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.”
Garuda Aerospace Emphasizes Local Production and Workforce Development
Garuda Aerospace Founder and Director Agnishwar Jayaprakash said the expansion reflects ten years of growth from an agriculture-focused startup into a large-scale domestic drone manufacturer and training provider.
“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. We were the first company to be approved by the DGCA for both drone manufacturing and training, and the first drone company whose clients received the first-ever AIF drone loan.”
Jayaprakash also credited government programs that encourage drone adoption and local production:
“It is heartening to see the practical impact of progressive government initiatives and policies coming to fruition, including schemes where women’s self-help groups were provided agricultural drones to enhance livelihoods, the SMAM drone subsidy scheme, and the Production Linked Incentive for boosting indigenous manufacturing… We remain committed to local manufacturing, following DGCA regulations, and working towards making India a global drone hub.”
A Global Shift Toward Secure and Domestic Drone Supply Chains
India’s investments in localized drone production mirror a broader international realignment.
Around the world, governments are:
• encouraging national manufacturing capability
• scrutinizing component origins and communications hardware
• supporting certification pipelines for professional pilots
• incentivizing industry growth through training and workforce programs
In the United States, the FCC’s recent actions affecting foreign-made drones and components have accelerated discussions around secure, traceable supply chains and domestic production. India’s approach similarly emphasizes indigenization, but with parallel investment in workforce training to ensure operational capacity grows alongside manufacturing.
Garuda Aerospace’s new drone battery factory and training block represent both sides of that equation: component-level industrial capability and human-capital development.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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