Army Signs MoU to Fast-Track Drones via Secunderabad Base

Hyderabad: The Indian Army on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to fast-track indigenous drone capabilities for land systems, with the collaboration to be coordinated through the 515 Army Base Workshop in Secunderabad.

The MoU was signed between the 515 Army Base Workshop, acting on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) and the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, and Raghu Vamsi Par East Automation Pvt Ltd.

According to the Army, the partnership establishes a pathway from evaluation to field induction and scaling up of drone technologies, aligned with operational requirements and indigenous manufacturing goals. The collaboration is to be coordinated through the Army Base Workshop.

The MoU focuses on technology infusion in drone manufacturing, with emphasis on IC engine-based drones and systems capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. Raghu Vamsi Par East will provide technical consultancy to the Army Base Workshop for comprehensive evaluation of drone technologies.

This will include subsystem reviews, integration readiness assessments and compliance with Army standards, the army said. The Army Base Workshop will route need-based requests for manufacturing trials, validation and certification support through the company, with emphasis on interoperability, safety and standards conformity.

The Army said the agreement strengthens indigenous capability, reduces dependence on imports for critical unmanned systems and shortens the time required to field drone solutions in support of operations. The model has also been designed to be replicable for future programmes and related subsystems.