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Over the next decade, India has the potential to exploit an opportunity in the drone sector. The drone and its components industry can significantly strengthen India’s manufacturing potential to USD 23 billion approximately by 2030, according to the latest EY – FICCI report titled, “Making India the drone hub of the world”.
Making India a drone manufacturing power would not only contribute to the country’s target of a USD 5 trillion economy but also largely focus on the Make in India mission and once delivered, its success will contribute to national prosperity across multiple sectors.
In the last few years, India’s drone industry has experienced significant growth, yet it remains heavily reliant on government contracts.
Co-founder and CEO of EndureAir, Rama Krishna says that the government has been a major buyer, using drones for surveillance, infrastructure monitoring, agricultural surveys, and other purposes. But, Krishna also believes that it must diversify its customer base and tap into sectors like private businesses, agriculture and individual consumers if the industry wants to truly thrive.
The commercial sector’s adoption of drones for various applications such as inspections, aerial photography, logistics and disaster management is increasing. Indian drones are gaining global traction due to their advanced technology, cost-effectiveness, safety and quality, opening up significant export opportunities.
“Continued investment in research and development, along with supportive policies, further enhances the industry’s potential. Thus, the Indian drone sector can sustain and grow even without relying primarily on government contracts,” he says.
In the mission of make-in-India, Noida-based EndureAir leverages its strong R&D background from IIT Kanpur to develop helicopter drones that outperform multirotor drones in endurance, speed, gust resistance and range.
Abhishek, Founder and Director of the company says that we are focusing on logistics drones designed for challenging environments like high-altitude areas where traditional multirotor technology falls short because imported machines often fail to meet the specific needs of Indian terrains and are expensive with limited post-sales support.
Our drones have a higher payload fraction, meaning they can carry more weight relative to their total take-off weight, making them ideal for defence applications, and the compact design of helicopter drones also suits ship-borne operations, reducing operational risks and costs, Rama Krishna adds.
EndureAir plans to complete the development of the Sabal-50, capable of carrying a 50 kg payload, by July. The company also looking for global certification and the development of the Sabal-100, with a 100 kg payload capacity.
Disrupting the Chinese drone market
Despite the dominance of Chinese drones globally, India is emerging as a significant drone exporter. Rama Krishna notes that Indian-made drones are increasingly in demand worldwide due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
Indian drones, perceived as safer alternatives to Chinese drones due to fewer security concerns, are gaining preference internationally. “Strong public-private partnerships are propelling India’s drone sector towards substantial future contributions, with export orders signalling the beginning of a major industry expansion. Indian drone manufacturers are poised to make significant strides in the global market in the coming years,” Krishna says.
PLI scheme needs expansion
The government has to expand the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and create an ecosystem to achieve the aim of making India a worldwide drone hub, according to a recently conducted study by Nexgen Exhibitions.
The PLI Scheme, which was notified on 30 September 2021, offers an incentive of Rs 120 crore distributed over three fiscal years to Indian makers of drones and drone components.
As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation forecasts, the Indian drone manufacturing market is likely to reach Rs 900 crore by 2025 from just Rs 60 crore in 2020-21. It also projected that the Indian drone market is expected to grow at 22.15 per cent CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) during the 2024-30 period.
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