Delhi, 14 June (H.S.): Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, inaugurated Garuda Aerospace's Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai, alongside 300 Centres of Excellence (CoE) and a DGCA-approved Train the Trainer (TTT) programme. The event featured a live demonstration by Drone Didis, showcasing the company’s commitment to self-reliance in the drone sector. Paswan commended Garuda Aerospace and its CEO, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, for their role in aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a Global Drone Hub. He highlighted the uniting of local component manufacturers at the new facility, which is set to produce over 100,000 drones in two years. Observing 2,000 agri-drones in one place was noted as an extraordinary achievement for India's drone capabilities.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash stated that the goal is to manufacture 100,000 Made-in-India drones by 2026, with 4,000 already delivered. The 35,000 square feet facility is designed for the design, manufacturing, and testing of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), significantly advancing India's drone manufacturing potential and skill development. The TTT program aims to empower educators and professionals as certified drone instructors. The establishment of the 300 CoEs, in partnership with academic and industry entities, is intended to foster innovation, research, and skill development in the drone sector across India.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar