Telangana Lands JSW's ₹850 Cr Defence Drone Facility

Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on 2 December 2025 laid the foundation stone for JSW Defence’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing facility at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Maheshwaram.

The ₹850-crore project, developed in collaboration with US-based Shield AI, will focus on producing advanced drones critical to national security. Equipped with technologies such as AI, cyber systems, and satellite integration, the 16-acre facility will have the capacity to manufacture up to 300 VBAT drones annually and will offer end-to-end services including repair, overhaul (MRO), assembly, and testing. Highlighting Telangana’s growing prominence in the defence sector, Minister Babu said, “Drones, satellites, cyber systems, and AI are now pivotal in strengthening national security.”

The project supports Telangana’s vision of creating a dedicated drone manufacturing and testing corridor, at a time when India’s UAV market is projected to grow to USD 4.4–5 billion by 2030.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.