Garuda Aerospace signs MoU with Lockheed Martin

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for advanced uncrewed aerial services (UAS) was signed by Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Services.

As part of the cooperation, the businesses will closely collaborate to investigate prospects to create drone-based service applications in industries like industrial inspection, mining, large-scale mapping, and defence. Vehicles that can carry out data-collection missions without a human on board are referred to as Uncrewed Systems. These vehicles can be aerial, terrestrial, or marine. They may also include related components like sensors and communications software. Drones are within the aerial category, hence UAS software solutions are necessary, as per reported by The Economic Times.

Enabling connection in semi-urban and rural areas is one of the primary applications that Garuda wants to introduce through this relationship. In addition to spraying pesticides, drones will serve as network signal repeaters, similar to routers circling over enormous areas.

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“The drones will continue to serve the agricultural sector and help farmers reduce cost. With 5G connectivity introduced, this is one step towards creating a byproduct with a huge disruption, The vision is to launch 25,000 such drones this year and 1,00,000 drones next year, and by 2024-2025, the goal is to deploy at least one drone in every village”, said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, founder of Garuda Aerospace, in a statement.

These drones will be able to deliver better and high-speed connectivity in communities for a few hours a day, similar to how many villages with intermittent energy access can perform effective irrigation (or whenever deployed). This would enable high-speed internet use for transactions and education/training purposes by organisations like banks and institutions like schools and universities.

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“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to support the growth of an indigenous defence and aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in India,” said Michael Baker, general manager of Lockheed Martin Canada CDL Systems.

About Garuda Aerospace

Garuda Aerospace focuses on the design, build and customization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for various applications. Catering to diverse needs such as event photography, agricultural survey, reconnaissance and surveillance, Garuda Aerospace meets the customer’s requirements with precision.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.