In a major push for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the defence sector, Odisha-based defence technology company IG Drones has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government. The agreement establishes an advanced drone manufacturing and research and development (R&D) facility within the UP Defence Corridor.
The new facility will be a strategic hub for indigenous drone technology, with an ambitious plan to mass-produce 100,000 units of its armoured FPV (First-Person View) Striker Drone annually. This move is expected to significantly scale up India’s capacity for tactical drone warfare systems.
- Product Focus: The facility will concentrate on the FPV Striker Drone, a combat-proven, indigenously designed, and developed tactical platform. The drone, successfully tested at the Indo-China border, is engineered for rapid deployment, precision targeting, and resilience in extreme conditions.
- Production Target: IG Drones aims for an annual output of 100,000 units, meeting national security requirements and exploring global export opportunities in regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Government Support: The Uttar Pradesh government will provide comprehensive support, including necessary regulatory approvals, permissions, and access to state and central incentives to accelerate the project.
- Strategic Impact: The collaboration positions Uttar Pradesh as a crucial hub for aerospace and defence innovation, driving technology advancement, employment generation, and significantly reducing India’s dependence on foreign imports for critical drone technology.
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO of IG Drones, stated, “This MoU is not just an agreement; it is a commitment to India’s self-reliance in defence technology. Our new facility will serve as a hub of innovation, manufacturing, and employment.” Major General Ramesh C. Padhi (Retd), Senior Vice President of R&D, also emphasized the rising global demand for indigenous FPV drones, noting the facility’s pivotal role in meeting national security needs.
