Chennai: In a move aligned with the Indian Army’s push for widespread drone adoption, ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading deep-tech drone manufacturer, has inaugurated a fully indigenous Drone Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Lab – Zuppa Drone MRO Lab – at the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC).
This project is a direct outcome of the Army Chief’s November 2024 directive for “A drone for every soldier” and represents a major step forward in self-reliant defence technology.
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Zuppa Drone MRO Lab: Need for Combat-Ready Soldiers
Developed in collaboration with the Dakshin Bharat Area, the Zuppa Drone MRO Lab addresses the growing need for combat-ready soldiers to maintain and troubleshoot drones in high-pressure operational environments.
This need was underscored by lessons learned during Operation Sindoor, which emphasized that drone survivability depends as much on in-field maintenance as it does on piloting skills.
“The true challenge in drone warfare lies in understanding and managing complex electronic systems under combat stress, especially EMF interference. Zuppa Drone MRO Lab brings this expertise to the frontlines,” said Sai Pattabiram, Founder and MD, ZUPPA.
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The Zuppa Drone MRO Lab was made possible through extensive consultations with Lt Gen Karanbir Brar, GOC Dakshin Bharat Area, and includes a DGCA-certified drone pilot training and licensing module delivered in partnership with TNUAV Corporation. A formal MoU has been signed between ZUPPA and MRC for lab deployment and training execution.
Training for the Future
A key component of the initiative is ZUPPA’s modular Learning Management System (LMS), which enables scalable, remote access to critical drone repair knowledge – from basic component identification to advanced diagnostics involving high electromagnetic field (EMF) resilience.
The platform supports:
- Mass Agniveer training
- Upskilling of serving personnel
- Post-retirement career enablement for veterans
“This adoption by the Indian Army validates the scalability and technical depth of our MRO platform,” said Venkatesh Sai, Co-Founder and Technical Director, ZUPPA. “We’re now exploring expansion to other regimental training centers.”
In addition to military applications, ZUPPA has deployed similar innovation labs across AICTE-approved engineering colleges to foster dual use between academic R&D and defence applications. Expansion of the MRO program across more technical arms of the Indian Army is already underway.
About ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies:
ZUPPA is a deep-tech drone company, specializing in autonomous navigation, drone training, and military-grade operational systems. ZUPPA partners with defence and academic institutions to develop scalable, indigenous drone technologies for India’s evolving security and mobility landscape.
