Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has established a strategic partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), a US-based firm, to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft systems in India. This agreement aims to enhance defense self-reliance and bolster Indo-US aerospace collaboration under the Ministry of Defence”s MALE RPAS program.
On Friday, L&T announced that it had entered into this significant pact with GA-ASI, allowing both companies to jointly produce Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Army. The collaboration will leverage L&T”s engineering and manufacturing expertise alongside GA-ASI”s operational proficiency in defense and aerospace.
L&T will take the lead as the prime bidder in the upcoming 87 MALE RPAS program, with GA-ASI serving as the technology partner. This partnership is expected to facilitate the production of GA-ASI”s MQ-series RPAS, which have been successfully utilized in numerous surveillance and strike missions globally, accumulating millions of flight hours.
The agreement represents a pivotal step toward achieving a self-sufficient defense ecosystem in India, while simultaneously strengthening the defense ties between the two nations. “This partnership offers India a unique opportunity to manufacture state-of-the-art unmanned platforms indigenously,” stated SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T. He emphasized that this alliance will significantly enhance India”s defense capabilities and promote self-reliance in aerospace technologies.
