Larsen & Toubro Partners with General Atomics for Indigenous Drone Manufacturing in India

Industrial Goods/Services

31st October 2025, 5:28 AM

Larsen & Toubro Partners with General Atomics for Indigenous Drone Manufacturing in India

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Stocks Mentioned :

Larsen and Toubro Limited

Short Description :

Larsen & Toubro Limited has announced a strategic partnership with US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in India. This collaboration aims to supply advanced, combat-proven drones for the Indian Armed Forces and boost domestic defense manufacturing capabilities under the Ministry of Defence's upcoming program. L&T will be the prime bidder, leveraging GA-ASI's technology.

Detailed Coverage :

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has entered into a significant partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI), a United States-headquartered company, to produce Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) within India. This alliance is set to cater to the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, positioning L&T as the prime bidder and GA-ASI as the technology partner for the Ministry of Defence's upcoming 87 MALE RPAS program.

The collaboration will enable the domestic manufacturing of GA-ASI's combat-proven MQ-series RPAS, which have a significant operational history globally, accumulating millions of flight hours in surveillance and strike missions. SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T, highlighted that this partnership offers India a crucial opportunity to develop state-of-the-art unmanned platforms domestically.

Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, stated that the combination of GA-ASI's expertise and L&T's manufacturing prowess is expected to deliver cutting-edge MALE RPAS solutions. This initiative aims to enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces and foster a robust, sustainable defense ecosystem in India.

Impact: This partnership is highly significant for India's defense sector, promoting indigenous manufacturing of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. It is expected to bolster the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces and create a strong domestic ecosystem for drone technology. The deal could also lead to future export opportunities. Rating: 8/10

Difficult Terms Explained: Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS): These are unmanned aircraft designed to fly at medium altitudes for extended periods, capable of performing various missions like surveillance and carrying out strikes, controlled remotely from a ground station.

Indigenous: Produced or manufactured within one's own country.