An MQ-9 Reaper contracted from General Atomics, is parked at Camp Wilson, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, June 15, 2024. The MQ-9 Reaper conducted multiple satellite launch and recovery landings and take-offs controlled by the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One unmanned aerial system division staff at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona | U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anna Higman
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and 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.
GA-ASI, based in the United States, designs and produces unmanned aerial systems used by several militaries worldwide. L&T brings capabilities in engineering, precision manufacturing, and system integration for defence and aerospace applications. The partnership is aimed at manufacturing combat-proven MALE RPAS platforms entirely in India, with provisions for technology transfer and compliance with indigenous content requirements under the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Under the arrangement, L&T will act as the prime bidder for the Ministry of Defence’s upcoming 87-MALE RPAS programme, with GA-ASI as the technology partner. The partnership covers the production of GA-ASI’s MQ-series systems, which have accumulated several million flight hours in surveillance and strike operations.
S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T, said in the statement, “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, said in the statement, “We are honoured 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.”
The partnership builds on growing industrial cooperation between India and the United States in unmanned and aerospace technologies.
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