Mumbai: In a landmark move to bolster India’s indigenous defence capabilities, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) have announced a strategic partnership to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in India for the Indian armed forces.
The collaboration brings together GA-ASI’s global leadership in unmanned aerial systems and L&T’s engineering, precision manufacturing, and system integration expertise in defence and aerospace. The alliance aims to deliver combat-proven MQ-series RPAS platforms, manufactured entirely within India, with millions of operational flight hours in surveillance and strike missions worldwide.
This initiative is closely aligned with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India missions, incorporating critical technology transfers and meeting indigenous content mandates. Under the partnership, L&T will serve as the prime bidder in the Ministry of Defence’s upcoming 87 MALE RPAS programme, with GA-ASI as the technology partner.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s journey toward a self-reliant defence ecosystem. It also strengthens Indo-US defence cooperation and supports the development of a globally competitive aerospace manufacturing base in India.
Commenting on the partnership, S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director of L&T, stated, “This partnership offers India a unique opportunity to manufacture state-of-the-art unmanned platforms indigenously. We are proud to join hands with GA-ASI, a recognised world leader in this domain, and are confident that this alliance will significantly enhance India’s defence capabilities and advance self-reliance in aerospace technologies.”
Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, added, “We are honored to serve the Indian market in partnership with Larsen & Toubro, a trusted and capable leader in India’s defence sector. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to supporting India’s vision for self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing in aerospace. By combining GA-ASI’s proven technology with L&T’s robust manufacturing expertise, we aim to deliver cutting-edge MALE RPAS solutions that will enhance the operational readiness of the Indian armed forces and contribute to a strong, sustainable defence ecosystem in India.”
