DGCA Chief Inaugurates Garuda Aerospace Drone Battery Facility in Chennai

The event, held during Bharat Drone Udaan, organised by the Bharat Drone Association, marked a milestone in India’s push for a self-reliant drone ecosystem.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, presided over the ceremony and emphasised the growing collaboration between India’s aviation regulator and the drone industry. He also inaugurated a new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO), designed to expand training capacity and meet rising demand for certified drone pilots in agriculture, defence, infrastructure, disaster management, and logistics.

During the event, Shri Kidwai unveiled the Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book, which documents innovative drone applications, successful case studies, and Garuda Aerospace’s journey in advancing indigenous drone technology. The book highlights the company’s contributions to rural and industrial India, reflecting its focus on responsible adoption and ecosystem building.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director of Garuda Aerospace, noted that the company has manufactured over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 pilots in the past decade. He credited progressive government initiatives such as drone subsidies, Production Linked Incentives, and support for women’s self-help groups with agricultural drones for enabling growth.

Shri Kidwai praised Garuda Aerospace’s wide range of drones, noting their applications across armed forces, farming, and industry. He highlighted the company’s role in indigenisation by producing critical components domestically and stressed the importance of trained RPTOs in driving the sector’s exponential growth.

The inauguration of the drone battery facility and the release of the impact book together reinforce Garuda Aerospace’s mission to build an end-to-end ecosystem spanning manufacturing, training, and deployment, positioning India as a global drone hub.