DGCA chief inaugurates Garuda Aerospace Drone Battery Facility in Chennai
Chennai, January 8
Director General of Directorate of Civil Aviation, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai inaugurated a new Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility of Garuda Aerospace, a startup backed by former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, at Chennai. The inauguration took place during Bharat Drone Udaan, an industry event organised by the Bharat Drone Association at Garuda Aerospace's operations centre.
According to an official statement from Garuda Aerospace on Wednesday, this facility is yet another step in "strengthening India's indigenous drone manufacturing ecosystem, following Garuda Aerospace's recent launch of its defence drone manufacturing unit."
The company said the new battery unit will support end-to-end domestic production and reduce dependence on imports in critical drone components.
During the visit, Kidwai also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace's DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO). The expanded infrastructure is expected to enhance training capacity and address the growing demand for certified drone pilots across sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management and logistics.
On the occasion, the DGCA chief released the Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book, which documents innovative drone applications, successful case studies and the company's journey in India's drone sector.
Addressing the gathering, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said Garuda Aerospace is among the few companies manufacturing a wide range of drones for diverse applications. He noted that the company's focus on indigenisation, by producing and assembling critical components within the country, sets an important benchmark for the industry. He also emphasised the role trained drone pilots will play as applications of drone technology continue to expand rapidly.
Garuda Aerospace Founder and Director Agnishwar Jayaprakash said the company has evolved over the last decade from an agri-tech startup into India's largest drone manufacturer, having produced over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 pilots. He highlighted that Garuda Aerospace was the first company to receive DGCA approvals for both drone manufacturing and training, and credited supportive government policies and regulatory guidance for the sector's growth.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Training 2500+ pilots is a huge achievement. As a tech student, I see a clear career path here. The expansion of the RPTO is very timely. Hope they offer more scholarships or tie-ups with colleges to make this accessible.
Good step, but hope the focus on indigenisation is real and not just for show. We need quality that matches global standards, not just local assembly. The proof will be in the durability and performance of these batteries in our harsh Indian conditions.
The applications in agriculture and disaster management are what excite me the most. Drones can revolutionize how we assess crop health and deliver aid during floods. This infrastructure development is key for scaling up.
MS Dhoni's involvement brings great visibility! From cricket captain to tech investor, he's inspiring. Hope this encourages more celebrities to invest in deep-tech and manufacturing, not just consumer apps. Jai Hind!
The defence angle is critical. With a dedicated manufacturing unit and now battery facility, we are strengthening our security apparatus. DGCA's support shows the government is serious about building this ecosystem. Aatmanirbhar Bharat in action.
A Agnishwar Jayaprakash Thank We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.