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Aerospace industry giant Thales and Garuda Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the development of the drone ecosystem in India.

With this collaboration, the two companies aim to foster innovation and advance the development of technological solutions that can enable safe and secure drone operations and help the growth of drone-based applications in India, the company said in a statement.

The MoU is set to come into effect in August 2024.

Based on the agreement, Thales is set to contribute with its expertise in Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight authorisations and detection, and system integration.

“We are proud to partner with Garuda Aerospace in paving the way for the development of advanced UTM systems in India by leveraging our extensive global experience and expertise in aeronautical solutions. This collaboration aligns well with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision, and seeks to support India in realising its ambition to become a major global hub for drones by 2030,” said Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director, Thales in India.

Meanwhile, Garuda brings to the table its skills in the manufacture and use of UAVs, and expertise in the Indian market, the company said.

According to Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, the company has cemented market dominance in the precision agri drone segment where 50% of agri drones in India are made by Garuda.

“Equipped with the largest fleet in India coupled with Thales’ UTM technology and their worldwide experience, Garuda Aerospace will aim to revolutionise the drone sector and play a key role in the transformation of India into a global drone powerhouse,” he added.