Chennai: Garuda Technologies, the US subsidiary of IPO-bound drone startup Garuda Aerospace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Extensee SAS, a provider of drone manufacturing and operational services, during Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, France.
The partnership is aimed at expanding the global deployment of Airbus Flexrotor unmanned aerial systems through a Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model by combining Garuda Technologies’ drone expertise with Extensee’s operational capabilities for civil, industrial, commercial, and government missions.
Under the agreement, Garuda Technologies and Extensee SAS will jointly deploy Airbus Flexrotor UAVs across international markets while leveraging Extensee’s comprehensive operational services.
These include mission management, flight authorizations, qualified operators and pilots, maintenance support, airworthiness management, safety systems, spare parts management, and technical services to ensure safe and compliant operations.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the use of Airbus Flexrotor platforms for long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), mapping, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, border security, and a wide range of commercial and government applications.
The Airbus Flexrotor is equipped with Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability, autonomous mission execution, and modular payload integration.
Weighing approximately 25 kilograms, the unmanned aerial system can remain airborne for 12 to 14 hours and operate from a compact 3.7m x 3.7m launch area.
The platform is capable of autonomous take-off and landing on both land and ships without requiring a conventional flight deck.
Its operational capabilities include infrastructure inspection, disaster response, powerline inspection, railway monitoring, pipeline surveillance, maritime operations, and coordinated surveillance missions.
Earlier in March 2026, Garuda Technologies’ parent company Garuda Aerospace signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to acquire 18 Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial Systems as part of its strategy to expand its unmanned aerial systems leasing services portfolio.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director of Garuda Aerospace, said: “This collaboration with Extensee marks an important step in expanding the global reach and operational capabilities of the Airbus Flexrotor drones.
By combining Garuda Aerospace’s expertise in advanced drone technology and manufacturing with Extensee’s proven operational excellence, we aim to unlock new opportunities for long-range autonomous missions across civil, industrial, and governmental sectors.
Together, we look forward to exploring innovative Drone-as-a-Service solutions that address critical operational challenges and create value globally.”
Jean-Baptiste Olry, President of Extensee SAS, said: “Signing this MoU in Paris, at the heart of Europe’s defence and aerospace ecosystem, is a natural step for Extensee.
We have spent years operating unmanned systems for the most demanding institutional and sovereign clients across Europe; from maritime surveillance to public safety missions; and that operational track record is exactly what turns advanced platforms like the Airbus Flexrotor into a dependable, end-to-end service.
Our Drone-as-a-Service model lets clients access long-endurance capabilities without bearing the complexity of ownership, airworthiness and mission management. With Garuda, we look forward to bringing that European operational expertise to new markets worldwide.”
The MoU reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to accelerate the adoption of next-generation unmanned aerial systems through strategic collaboration and operational excellence.
Garuda Aerospace has established strategic partnerships with leading international organizations including Thales, Lockheed Martin, and Elbit Systems across drone security, autonomous flight technologies, and advanced unmanned systems.
In India, the company has expanded collaborations with key defence and aerospace organizations such as BEL while also exploring opportunities with HAL and BEML.
These partnerships reinforce the company’s commitment to advancing indigenous innovation, strengthening technological capabilities, and supporting India’s vision of self-reliance in aerospace and defence technologies.
To date, Garuda Technologies and its parent organization have manufactured and sold more than 5,000 drones while serving over 500 enterprise and government clients across global markets, further strengthening their position in the rapidly evolving unmanned aerial systems industry.
