Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace Partner to Establish UAV Design and Certification Centre for Indigenous Drone Technology
Tata Elxsi has partnered with Garuda Aerospace to create a state-of-the-art drone design, engineering, and certification centre. The collaboration, announced at Aero India 2025, focuses on developing indigenous drone technologies for applications in defence, agriculture, and smart cities, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s position in the global aerospace sector.
The centre, designed to be a hub for innovation and technological development, will play a crucial role in advancing drone capabilities in India. Tata Elxsi, with its expertise in avionics, miniaturisation, ground control systems, secured communication, and energy optimisation, will lead the design, development, testing, and certification of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) subsystems. This partnership aligns with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, which aims to encourage domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance.
Garuda Aerospace, a leading player in the UAV industry, will focus on the business side of the partnership, concentrating on business acquisition and delivery. The company’s strong presence in the defence sector will be crucial for acquiring key contracts and ensuring the successful integration of these drones into military operations. Together, Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace plan to develop drones that cater to various applications, including payload management, goods delivery, precision agriculture, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) missions. Jayaraj Rajapandian, Head of Aerospace, Rail & Off-highway at Tata Elxsi, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with Garuda Aerospace marks a major milestone in India’s aerospace ambitions. By driving AI-powered UAV advancements, we are strengthening India’s defence ecosystem and reinforcing the country’s self-reliance in aerospace technologies.” This partnership holds the promise of not only advancing India’s technological capabilities but also enhancing the operational efficiency of its armed forces and border security.
The drones developed as part of this initiative are expected to play a vital role in India’s defence sector, offering enhanced capabilities for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Furthermore, the partnership aims to create employment opportunities within the aerospace sector, driving innovation and encouraging the growth of the UAV industry in India. Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration, saying, “This strategic collaboration with Tata Elxsi reinforces our commitment to indigenous innovation. Over the next three to five years, we will focus on fully indigenised production and supply of airborne and ground systems, strengthening India’s leadership in UAV technology.” The potential for growth in the UAV sector is immense, and this partnership seeks to establish India as a leader in the global drone market.
The collaboration also addresses critical infrastructure challenges, particularly in the defence sector. While India has made significant strides in developing indigenous UAVs, the infrastructure required to design, test, and certify these technologies has often been lacking. This new drone design and certification centre will play a pivotal role in bridging that gap, providing the necessary infrastructure for the development and deployment of advanced UAVs. The initiative is set to create a lasting impact on various sectors, including agriculture, where UAVs are expected to revolutionise crop monitoring, pest control, and aerial spraying. Smart cities will benefit from enhanced surveillance, traffic management, and disaster response capabilities through the use of advanced drones. The partnership between Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace to establish a UAV design and certification centre is a significant step forward in India’s aerospace journey. By focusing on indigenous innovation and AI-powered UAV advancements, the collaboration promises to strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence technology while creating new opportunities in agriculture and smart city development. This venture also addresses key infrastructure challenges in the UAV sector, positioning India as a global leader in drone technology.
