DGCA Chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai Inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai
New academic block for DGCA-approved drone pilot training also unveiled
07 January 2026, Chennai: Strengthening India’s push towards self-reliance in drone technology, Garuda Aerospace on Tuesday inaugurated its new Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai in the presence of Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The inauguration follows the company’s recent launch of its defence drone facility and marks another milestone in building an indigenous, end-to-end drone ecosystem in India.
The event, held at Garuda Aerospace’s operations centre, was organised in collaboration with the Bharat Drone Udaan initiative associated with the Bharat Drone Association.
During the visit, the DGCA chief also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO). The expanded infrastructure is designed to scale up training capacity, strengthen curriculum delivery, and address the rising demand for certified drone pilots across agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management, and logistics. Kidwai further unveiled the Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book, which documents the company’s journey, key milestones, and its role in advancing Make in India drone technologies, while highlighting the social and economic impact of drones in both rural and industrial India.
Speaking on the occasion, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director, Garuda Aerospace, said the company’s decade-long journey began in agricultural technology before evolving into India’s largest drone company. He noted that Garuda Aerospace has manufactured over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 pilots, while also being the first DGCA-approved company for both drone manufacturing and pilot training. He highlighted the tangible impact of progressive government initiatives, including agricultural drone deployment through women’s self-help groups, the SMAM drone subsidy scheme, and Production Linked Incentive support for indigenous manufacturing. Emphasising regulatory support, he said the company remains committed to local manufacturing, strict compliance with DGCA norms, and positioning India as a global drone hub.
Addressing the gathering, DGCA Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said the diversity of drones being manufactured at the facility demonstrated the sector’s growing maturity and its relevance across defence, agriculture, and industry. He observed that Garuda Aerospace stands out for manufacturing a wide range of drones and for advancing indigenisation by producing and assembling critical components within India. Highlighting the importance of skilled manpower, he added that certified drone pilots emerging from the RPTO ecosystem would play a crucial role as drone applications expand rapidly across sectors.
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