Garuda Aerospace, the Indian drone technology startup backed by former cricketer MS Dhoni, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to jointly pursue the development and supply of indigenous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the Indian defence forces, central police organisations, and specialised security agencies. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi on January 13, 2026, underscoring India’s strategic push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing and aviation technology.

Under the collaboration framework, BEL will serve as Team Leader and Lead Bidder, responsible for programme execution and defence systems integration, while Garuda Aerospace will act as the Technology and Teaming Partner, contributing its advanced expertise in drone design, manufacturing and operational deployment. The partnership aims to develop mission-ready, fully indigenous UAS solutions tailored to the dynamic operational requirements of national security and internal defence ecosystems.

The alliance combines BEL’s longstanding experience in defence electronics and system integration with Garuda Aerospace’s capabilities in unmanned aerial technology, aligning with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to strengthen domestic defence production and technological sovereignty. A subsequent Teaming Agreement is expected to define detailed work-share arrangements and responsibilities in line with procurement norms and customer requirements.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director of Garuda Aerospace, highlighted that the collaboration will help scale indigenous drone platforms and deliver robust unmanned solutions for India’s security forces. BEL described the partnership as a testament to leveraging complementary strengths to address evolving defence and security challenges.

This MoU marks a significant milestone in the growth of India’s drone ecosystem, reinforcing cross-sector cooperation between a premier public sector defence enterprise and a rapidly expanding private drone manufacturer.