Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace Collaborate to Develop Indigenous UAV Technologies

Tata Elxsi and Garuda Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Aero India 2025 to establish a Centre of Excellence focused on the design and development of indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The collaboration aims to advance UAV systems, including drones, sensors, AI-driven analytics, and eVTOL solutions, catering to applications in defence, agriculture, and smart cities.

The MoU will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to enhance drone efficiency, targeting a 20% reduction in energy consumption and cost savings exceeding 20%. Additionally, it seeks to build a fully indigenous vendor ecosystem for UAV development and manufacturing, reducing dependency on imports and accelerating UAV development cycles by up to six months.

Under this initiative, Tata Elxsi will lead UAV design, engineering, and certification, leveraging its expertise in avionics, miniaturisation, secured communication, ground control systems, and energy optimisation. Its capabilities in avionics certification, including compliance with DO-254 and DO-178C standards, will ensure regulatory adherence and safety. The company will also integrate autonomous and digital twin technologies, AI-driven solutions, and advanced propulsion and battery management systems to enhance UAV performance.

Garuda Aerospace, as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with experience in the defence sector and beyond, will handle business acquisition and delivery. The UAVs developed through this initiative will support various applications, including payload management, goods delivery, precision agriculture, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The collaboration is expected to benefit Indian defence forces and the Border Security Force by providing access to advanced UAV technologies. It is also anticipated to contribute to workforce development and generate employment opportunities in the aerospace sector.

Jayaraj Rajapandian, Head of Aerospace, Rail & Off-highway at Tata Elxsi, described the agreement as a strategic move to enhance AI-powered UAV capabilities and strengthen India's self-reliance in aerospace technologies. Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO of Garuda Aerospace, emphasized the focus on indigenous production and the supply of airborne and ground systems over the next three to five years, reinforcing India's position in UAV technology.