Chennai: Garuda Aerospace, a leading drone manufacturer in India, invited officers from the College of Defence Management (CDM), Hyderabad, to its recently inaugurated manufacturing facility in Chennai. This marked the second visit by CDM officers to the company’s facilities and highlighted the growing collaboration between India’s defence sector and its burgeoning drone industry by showcasing the strategic applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern defence operations.
Defence officers and management trainees were taken on an in-depth tour of Garuda’s advanced manufacturing and research and development facilities. Key areas showcased included the Drone Assembly and Quality Assurance Zone, the R&D and Simulation/Testing Rooms, and the RPTO Training and Stimulation Facility, where officers gained firsthand exposure to the rigorous production and pilot training protocols essential for modern defence applications.
Garuda Aerospace’s advanced UAV portfolio was showcased, covering a wide range of defence and tactical systems. These included the G500, a high-performance UAV for reconnaissance; Swarm Drones for coordinated multi-drone operations; UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) for terrain-based missions; Agri Drone with dual-use capabilities; Droni Drone for advanced surveillance and tactical response; Canister Dropping Drone for specialised payload delivery; Solar Panel Cleaning Drone for critical infrastructure maintenance; and Delivery Drone for high-precision logistics.
Some of these drones, including the “MS Dhoni-inspired” Droni, had recently been launched by the Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth. The Minister unveiled five advanced UAVs designed for defence and disaster response, launched the Garuda Raksha Udaan 2025 Impact Book, and announced free drone training programs for soldiers’ widows and Remote Pilot Certification for defence personnel. The event also marked the establishment of a Defence Drone Lab with 13 JAK Rifles and the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Defence Park at Cheyyur, reinforcing Garuda’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s growing drone ecosystem.
“This initiative bridges a crucial gap between defence management education and real-world applications of drone technology. Our objective was to equip India’s future defence leaders with advanced knowledge and practical insights that align with the nation’s evolving security requirements,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace.
Officers and management trainees from CDM gained first-hand exposure to cutting-edge drone technologies, advanced production, and industry-led innovations that were shaping India’s UAV ecosystem. The sessions also explored opportunities for deeper academia-industry collaboration to accelerate defence technology advancements and contribute to the nation’s strategic capabilities.
As an investor and brand ambassador for the company, MS Dhoni, a serving honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, was a key figure in Garuda’s mission to bridge the gap between military needs and drone technology.
