Garuda Aerospace and Naini Aerospace Engineering Limited (NAeL), a subsidiary of HAL under the Ministry of Defence, have signed a joint partnership to boost indigenous drone manufacturing in India. The partnership will enable Garuda to manufacture Advanced Precision Drones on Indian soil with a payload capacity of around 25 kg.
Garuda Aerospace’s CEO, Shri Agnishwar Jayaprakash, expressed confidence in achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of producing 100,000 Made in India drones by 2024. The partnership with NAeL is seen as a natural progression for Garuda Aerospace, and they have already received pre-bookings for over 7,000 drones. Collaborations with government PSUs like NAeL are crucial to scale up production.
Garuda Aerospace has also partnered with BEML for drone manufacturing at their Mysore facility and initiated an indigenization campaign by collaborating with 120 local suppliers to reduce reliance on foreign imports of drone components.
NAeL’s CEO, Shri R.R. Thakur, expressed excitement about working with Garuda Aerospace in the rapidly evolving drone sector. NAeL has proven capabilities in producing aero-structures and aircraft looms and has experienced professionals from HAL overseeing operations.
NAeL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HAL, was established in 2016 with a focus on sustainable manufacturing in the aerospace and aviation sector. The partnership strengthens Garuda Aerospace’s position in India’s drone manufacturing ecosystem and allows for seamless delivery and access to clients across multiple regions.
The factory is located on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway, about 20 km from Prayagraj city center. The area is being considered for inclusion in the proposed defense industrial corridor of Uttar Pradesh.
