San Mateo, CA: Leading US drone manufacturer, Skydio entered into a groundbreaking partnership with Indian drone manufacturer Aeroarc on February 20, 2024. The partnership between the two companies expands AI collaboration between the US and India by bringing advanced autonomous flight technology to the subcontinent.

The announcement coincides with the February meeting of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), a strategic technology partnership between the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) to spur defence industrial cooperation between government, business, and academia.

Skydio will support Aeroarc in the development, manufacture, deployment, and support of small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) for Indian customers through this partnership. Skydio has a strong record of investment in India’s technology ecosystem, including the establishment last year of an R&D centre in Bengaluru.

Skydio will grow its manufacturing presence in the region through its relationship with Aeroarc, co-develop domain-specific UAS applications, and promote market expansion. The Skydio-Aeroarc collaboration will serve the needs of the Indian Ministry of Defence as well as other global defence customers in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting the establishment of India as a global hub for advanced defence technology.

Adam Bry, CEO and co-founder of Skydio said, “As the largest manufacturer of small uncrewed aircraft systems outside of China, we’re excited to continue our investment in India and partner with Aeroarc on critical, dual-use products and capabilities that help allied nations in the Indo-Pacific region deter conflict and protect troops.”

“We support the objectives of the INDUS-X partnership and believe autonomous drone technology is central to the future of India’s defence innovation strategy,” Adam Bry added.

The partnership between Skydio and Aeroarc aligns with broader US-India strategic goals announced by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi in the January 2023 initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). iCET aims to deepen cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, strengthen mutual defence ties, and accelerate the US and India’s innovation ecosystem.

Commented Arjun Aggarwal, Managing Director of Aeroarc Pvt Ltd, “Our partnership symbolises the strengthening defence and technological ties between India and the United States. Aligned with our Prime Ministers’ ‘Make in India for the World’ initiative, Skydio and Aeroarc will locally manufacture state-of-the-art drones, catering to both domestic and international markets.”

“This will amplify India’s role in the global defence supply chain and enhance the resilience of both nations against supply disruptions, as recently seen due to situations in Ukraine and the Middle East,” he added.

A world leader in autonomous flight, Skydio leverages breakthrough AI to create the world’s most intelligent flying machines for use by enterprise and government customers. Skydio remains the solution provider of record for the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance program, which it won in November 2021, as well as the US Marine Corps’ Short Range Short Endurance program which it won in 2021.

Skydio recently debuted its newest drones, the Skydio X10 for commercial enterprises and the Skydio X10D for defence and other government applications. The Skydio X10 platform combines cutting-edge sensors, autonomy, and airframe design to serve a range of industries including defence, public safety, and energy utilities. The Skydio X10D is an offline variant that provides superior performance in tactical environments and is the first sUAS capable of 24/7 operations with its revolutionary NightSense technology, enabling autonomous obstacle-avoidance in zero-light environments. It is also the first small UAS to integrate a FLIR Boson+ sensor, achieving the category’s highest thermal imaging quality and more accurate radiometric readings to improve operational outcomes at any time day or night.

Aeroarc Pvt Ltd, founded in 2019, has rapidly emerged as a force within the Indian Drone and Robotics industry. Specialising in the development of cutting-edge aerial and terrestrial unmanned systems, Aeroarc’s offerings are designed for the most challenging conditions. These advanced systems are tailored to minimise human risk and enhance the success rates of operations, reflecting the company’s commitment to safety and excellence. Aeroarc’s strategic focus on dual-use technology enables it to serve a wide array of clients, ranging from government entities to various sectors within the enterprise domain.