New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s defence manufacturing ambitions, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed an agreement with US defence giant General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to jointly produce Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones in India.
The partnership positions L&T as the lead bidder for the Ministry of Defence’s ₹20,000-crore project to procure 87 MALE remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), while GA-ASI will act as the technology partner, transferring expertise from its globally proven MQ-series drones.
L&T and the US-headquartered General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) have entered into a strategic partnership to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in India, for the Indian armed forces. https://t.co/NBxO2K2YLV… pic.twitter.com/SRZ2bWLCF7
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GA-ASI’s MQ-9 Reaper and other MQ-series platforms have seen extensive combat use across multiple theatres, earning a reputation for precision surveillance and long-range strike capabilities. Their Indian-made variants are expected to significantly enhance border monitoring and national security.
L&T Chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan hailed the collaboration as “a major step towards self-reliance in defence production,” adding that it “provides India a unique opportunity to design and build advanced unmanned systems domestically.”
GA-ASI CEO Dr. Vivek Lall said the partnership merges “GA-ASI’s unmatched drone technology with L&T’s proven manufacturing strength,” paving the way to deliver “robust, reliable and indigenous RPAS solutions” to India’s armed forces.
Officials said a high-level meeting led by the Indian Air Force is expected soon at the Ministry of Defence to finalise procurement modalities and timelines for the project.
Analysts view the deal as a landmark moment in India-US defence cooperation, aligning with New Delhi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ goals. It is also seen as a critical step toward building domestic capacity in high-end aerospace and surveillance technologies.
