Solar Defence announces Rs 12,800 crore investment in robotics, drone and deep tech projects
Nagpur, March 7
Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited on Saturday announced an investment of over Rs. 12,800 crore in projects related to the manufacturing of robots, UAVs of different sizes and types, along with long-range missiles.
Solar Group Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal said that, looking at the warfare around the world, his company has decided to make investments in deep tech projects.
"In this facility in Nagpur, we want to create capacity to produce 10,000 drones of different sizes and types as per requirements every year, along with 1,000 robots," Nuwal told ANI in an interaction.
He said the investment of Rs. 12,800 crore would be made in the next three to four years, even though the investment is to be made in the next 10 years as part of the Maharashtra government's Mega Project and Thrust policy.
He stated that the first robot prototype is likely to be produced within one year.
Solar officials said the entry of the group in game changing field of Deep Tech innovation will enhance the scope of our existing defence manufacturing capabilities and also contribute hugely towards Civilian, Industrial and Dual-use production.
Solar said the factory is envisioned to be India's first AI-Powered Industry 5.0 manufacturing ecosystem, combining advanced robotics, intelligent automation, and the principles of human-centred, sustainable and responsible manufacturing practices.
Specifically focused on designing, developing, and manufacturing several emerging and strategic products, electronic components and Assemblies, in the first phase, the following key product areas will be focused on forcommercial and strategic defence applications: Advanced AI-Powered UAVs, including the production of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive scale - 10,000 drones and 1,000 robots annually! But I hope the focus on "human-centred" manufacturing is real and not just jargon. We've seen tech investments sometimes overlook the workers. The promise of Industry 5.0 sounds good, but execution is key.
MALE drones are a game-changer for border surveillance. Given the security challenges, this indigenous capacity is crucial. Hope they deliver on the 1-year prototype timeline. Jai Hind!
Nagpur becoming a defence hub! 🚀 This is what we need - strategic industries moving beyond the usual metros. Will help develop the entire region. Kudos to the Maharashtra government's policy for attracting this.
The dual-use aspect for civilian and industrial applications is smart. Robotics can revolutionise agriculture, logistics, and disaster management in India. Hope they allocate sufficient R&D for these non-military uses as well.
A respectful criticism: The article mentions investment over 3-4 years, but also as part of a 10-year policy. Clarity on the actual rollout and phase-wise benefits would be helpful. Such large announcements sometimes get delayed. Hope Solar Defence walks the talk.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.