Defence Drones Manufacturing Unit Coming Up in Nellore District

Nellore: In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s ambitions of having defence industries in the state, Delhi-based Anadrone Systems Private Limited is all set to establish a large-scale defence drones production facility over 350 acres near Papampalle village in Duttalur mandal of SPSR Nellore district.

The project, which received the State Cabinet’s approval on April 10, 2026, is expected to attract an investment of around ₹220 crore and generate about 350 direct and 500 indirect jobs. The company plans to commence commercial operations within 22–24 months of land allocation.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Delhi, Anadrone Systems specialises in manufacturing high-speed target drones. It is the only approved supplier of these systems, along with launchers and ground support equipment, to all the three Indian defence forces — the Army, Navy, and Air Force — as well as key defence research organisations.

For nearly eight years, missile testing programmes of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its laboratories, including DRDL, have relied on Anadrone’s target drones, with the company’s teams actively participating in validation processes. Its systems are widely used in training programmes of the armed forces.

The company, led by managing director Anant Bhalotia, is now expanding into advanced combat drone technologies, currently in trial stages. It recently gained national attention after winning the ADITI Challenge (December 2024) for developing “ABHAY,” an anti-radar decoy swarm system with electronic warfare payload.

The firm is investing around ₹100 crore in this programme, apart from ₹25 crore government grant, to establish dedicated production lines for ABHAY at its Nellore facility.

Apart from drone systems, Anadrone has secured its first order for electronic fuses used in small and medium ammunition. The unit in Nellore will include facilities for high-energy materials, warhead and fuse filling, and ammunition assembly lines, catering to both domestic and export markets.

Anadrone, with operating units in Odisha and Maharashtra, had planned to establish its defence drones facility in Odisha. However, after sustained efforts by Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Udayagiri MLA Kakarla Suresh, district collector Himanshu Shukla, APIIC officials, and the state government, Anadrone shifted the unit to Nellore district in AP.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved the project when public representatives and officials presented it to the CM during his recent visit to Vinjamur.

* Anadrone is the only approved supplier of high-speed target drones, along with launchers and ground support equipment, to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force — as well as key defence research organisations.

* The Nellore district will include facilities for high-energy materials, warhead and fuse filling, and ammunition assembly lines, catering to both domestic and export markets.

ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITIONS

- First company to receive contract under Make in India, Make II scheme from Indian Army and Indian Air Force – delivery executed successfully.

- Prime contractor of DRDO for Aerial Target Systems over eight years

- Delivered over 1,000+ target drones for end user operation.