New Delhi: Aiming to bolster its technological capabilities, Adani Group with a strong emphasis on unmanned systems, small arms, missiles, and indigenous artillery guns has set aside $2-2.5 billion for acquisitions in the defence sector over the next 2-3 years.

Creating a war chest of $ 2-2.5 billion, the Adani Group’s focus has been on drone technology companies in Bengaluru and Hyderabad as potential acquisition targets.

Looking for more advanced technologies, the Adani Group is expecting acquisitions to fill the gap. It has a range of counter-drone systems that can be used in particularly difficult to hostile territories and avoid human casualties. The defence forces can deploy these for remote reconnaissance activities.

According to a media report citing sources with knowledge of development, talks are ongoing with the drone technology firms, and a deal is likely in the next few months.

Recently, Adani Defence & Aerospace and UAE-based EDGE group signed a collaboration agreement on defence and security. Areas of cooperation included missiles and weapons covering airborne, surface, infantry, ammunition, and air defence products, platforms and systems covering unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, unmanned ground vehicles, as well as electronic warfare and cyber technologies.

Adani Defence’s CEO Ashish Rajvanshi, earlier this year at a defence summit had said the company had “big investments” planned in the defence sector over the next ten years.

The Adani Group in February, launched a Rs 3,000-crore ammunition factory in Kanpur spread over 500 acres. Touted to be South Asia’s largest ammunition and missile complex, the Kanpur facility will make small, medium, and large calibre ammunition for the defence forces.

The Adani Group has announced Rs 1,000 crore investment in Telangana to establish counter-drone and missile facilities. Last year, the defence business launched an indigenously manufactured Drishti 10, an advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform that was flagged off at Porbandar. It also inaugurated a serial production line for missile systems at Hyderabad.

The Adani Group collaborates  with the Defence Research and Development Organisation on a number of projects, including naval anti-ship missiles. The group has tied up with leading defence technology companies in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia to help bring more advanced technologies into the defence sector.

With plans to step up investments in unmanned systems, small arms, and missiles while venturing into the production of indigenous artillery guns, the Adani Group is also focused on establishing maintenance, repair, and overhaul solutions in India.