Garuda Aerospace

Drone adoption increasingly depends on payload integration, autonomy, AI-enabled analytics, navigation, communications, battery efficiency, mission software and reliable operation in demanding field conditions. For Garuda, product breadth, patents, defence-drone development, internal software / product development and collaboration with technology partners are central to maintaining differentiation.

• Indigenous platform design and localisation

• AI / computer-vision and mission software

• Payload and sensor integration

• IP / patents and certification capability

• Data analytics and recurring software-enabled services

As the industry moves from pilots to scaled deployments, manufacturing throughput, quality control, supply-chain localisation and repeatable field maintenance become increasingly important. Garuda combines a Chennai-area manufacturing / operations footprint with service partners and pilot networks. Scale must be accompanied by stronger inventory planning and receivable collection to prevent growth from remaining cash consumptive.

• Manufacturing yield and standardisation

• Component localisation and vendor depth

• Quality, testing and certification

• Serviceability and spare-parts availability

• Working-capital discipline during rapid scale-up

Indian drone manufacturers can target overseas agriculture, industrial and defence use cases where cost competitiveness and localisation capability are valued. Garuda reported entry into Sri Lanka during FY25 and has pursued international technology and market partnerships. Export growth, however, introduces certification, export-control, local-partner and after-sales requirements that differ by jurisdiction.

• Country-specific certification and aviation rules

• Export licences and defence-control requirements

• Local channel / service partners

• Product adaptation for local crop, weather and mission conditions

• Foreign-exchange and cross-border execution risk

• India's drone policy framework has been deliberately structured to encourage domestic manufacturing, operations and adoption. The Drone Rules, 2021 simplified the regulatory framework, reduced forms and fees, enabled a Digital Sky single-window system and created a more growth-oriented operating regime while retaining safety and certification requirements.

• The Production Linked Incentive scheme for drones and drone components was introduced to support indigenous manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat. The scheme had an allocated corpus of INR 120.0 Cr for implementation over FY23-FY25. While the original scheme period has concluded, it contributed to industry capacity creation and localisation.

• The Namo Drone Didi scheme provided a direct agriculture-demand catalyst. The Government approved an outlay of INR 1,261.0 Cr for 2023-24 to 2025-26 to provide drones to 15,000 women Self-Help Groups for rental services to farmers. The scheme provided 80.0% central financial assistance up to INR 8.0 lakh per drone package together with pilot and assistant training. This policy directly supports the agriculture-drone and DaaS ecosystem in which Garuda operates.

• Policy implication for the Company: Government support lowers adoption barriers and expands the addressable base for agriculture, skilling and indigenous manufacturing. The benefit is not automatic; realisation depends on product certification, tender / channel execution, service capacity, financing availability to end users and collections discipline.