A Drone King In The Making

GARUDA AEROSPACE is energising India's evolving defencetech landscape with dual-use drones and global ambitions

- By Resham Suhail

DRONES have emerged as a strategic priority, serving both national security and civilian interests, thanks to the government's emphasis on indigenous defence innovation, increased allocations for PLI schemes for drones and a rising number of global collaborations.

And leading the charge is Chennai-headquartered startup Garuda Aerospace, which is not just revolutionising drone technology for India's all-round development but also has ambitions to become a key player globally.

Founded in 2015, Garuda Aerospace, which uses AI-powered aerial technology to deliver cutting-edge solutions, offers more than 50 variants for 38 applications across sectors such as defence, agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster response.

Atmanirbhar Vision

“At Garuda Aerospace, we are deeply inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially in the defence sector,” declares Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, adding, “Our mission is to develop self-reliant, homegrown drone technologies that bolster national security.”

The startup has gone beyond prototypes to build dual-use platforms that straddle both military and non-military domains. “We are actively developing AI-powered surveillance drones, loitering munitions, and swarm systems designed to enhance real-time intelligence, tactical precision, and border security,” says Jayaprakash.