Prayagraj-based NAeL to start manufacturing heavy-lifting capacity drones

PRAYAGRAJ: In a first in the state, the Naini Aerospace engineering limited (NAeL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, would be manufacturing drones that would be able to carry the payload of around 25kg and the same can be used by the farming fraternity.
Having its utility in different fields, foremost being agricultural, NAeL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a South India-based company named Garuda Aerospace (GA) for collaboration in manufacturing drones, on Saturday.
The Naini-based public sector unit will start manufacturing these heavy-duty drones by the end of next month.
The MoU was signed by chief executive officer (CEO), NAeL, RR Thakur executive director of Garuda Aerospace Vijaykumar Rajarathinam in the presence of the CEO of GA, Agnishwar Jayprakash in an online mode.
“This unique initiative is expected to create employment and shall boost economic activities in Naini Industrial Area, which is also an education hub. This would be the first drone manufacturing facility in northern India with the potential to add tremendous value to the industries such as security & surveillance, agriculture, mapping of lands etc. to cater to the requirements within the country,” CEO, NAeL, RR Thakur, said.
This partnership will put its best efforts to increase the indigenisation of imported components required for the manufacturing of drones. Most of the components, which consist about 75%, are presently being imported from China & other western countries, he added.
Considering the shortage of manpower and high investment in the agriculture sector, it has been envisaged to support our farmers by providing cost-effective solutions to increase their productivity by using technology-enabled drones, specially designed to cater day to day agricultural needs.
Towards this Naini Aerospace, Prayagraj along with Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace has joined hands, said Thakur.
The drone is specially designed with a take-off weight of 25.5kg and shall cover a radius of 500 meters with a speed of 5 meters/second. The drone has a spray efficiency of 1,500-2,550 square meters/minute.
Naini-based NAeL started its production in July 2017 and has previously hogged the limelight when it bagged the order for manufacturing loom for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and for ALH Dhruv helicopters. Later, NAeL started the assembly of structures of Dhruv helicopters along with Stub wings of LCA which are also being manufactured.
NAeL is also carrying out loom work of Cheetah, Chetak and Dornier aircraft and Helicopters. More than 10,000 looms have been manufactured and installed in aircrafts.
Recently, a proposal for starting a course for Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) has been sent to DGCA and is likely to be started soon after getting the formal approval, the CEO said.