Chennai: Strengthening India’s push towards self-reliance in the drone sector, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s Drone Battery Manufacturing facility in Chennai on January 7, 2026.
The inauguration follows the recent launch of the company’s defence drone facility and marks another milestone in Garuda Aerospace’s efforts to build an indigenous drone ecosystem.
The inauguration of the Drone Battery Manufacturing facility highlights Garuda Aerospace’s focus on developing critical components locally, aligned with the government’s Make in India vision.
During the event, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai emphasised the growing collaboration between the civil aviation regulator and India’s rapidly evolving drone industry.
The ceremony was held at Garuda Aerospace’s Operations Centre in association with the Bharat Drone Udaan event organised by the Bharat Drone Association.
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Drone Battery Manufacturing and Expansion of Training Infrastructure
Alongside the Drone Battery Manufacturing facility, the DGCA Director General also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO).
The expanded academic infrastructure is designed to enhance training capacity, strengthen curriculum delivery, and address the increasing demand for certified drone pilots across sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management, and logistics.
During the event, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai also unveiled the “Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book,” which documents Garuda Aerospace’s journey, milestones, and contributions to the evolution of indigenous drone technology.
The publication showcases the impact of drone applications across rural and industrial India, reflecting the company’s emphasis on responsible adoption, ecosystem development, and inclusive growth.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director, Garuda Aerospace, said that over the last decade the company has evolved from an agriculture technology firm into India’s largest drone company, having manufactured over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 drone pilots.
He noted that Garuda Aerospace was the first company to receive DGCA approval for both drone manufacturing and training, and the first drone company whose clients availed the country’s first Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) drone loan.
He highlighted the role of supportive government policies, including agricultural drone initiatives for women’s self-help groups, the SMAM drone subsidy scheme, and the Production Linked Incentive for boosting indigenous manufacturing, in driving the company’s growth.
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Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, DGCA, stated that the range of drones manufactured at Garuda Aerospace serves multiple applications, benefiting the armed forces, farmers, and industry alike.
He observed that the company is advancing indigenisation by manufacturing and assembling critical components domestically, and added that trained and licensed drone pilots graduating from the RPTO will play a key role in supporting the industry’s rapid expansion as drone applications continue to grow.
The inauguration of the Drone Battery Manufacturing facility, together with the new academic block, represents a significant step in Garuda Aerospace’s mission to establish an end-to-end, self-reliant drone ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, training, and deployment to support India’s expanding drone economy.
