New Delhi: The two biggest Indian conglomerates, the Ambani and Adani Groups, are learnt to have joined the race to become the number one in civilian drone sector. The two business groups have expressed their desire to expand business into the civilian drone field, according to a report published in The Times of India.
The two corporations have significant presence in the defence drone making sector, while the civilian sphere is still left to be touched.
In Delhi’s drone festival last week, the executives of these two companies spoke about expanding their business in the civilian drone space.
ALSO READ | Adani Green Switches On India’s First 390 Mw Hybrid Power Plant In Jaisalmer
“We will be expanding in all spheres like original equipment manufacturer (OEM), services, and analytics using Cloud-based platforms. We aim to be the biggest OEM in India. As of now, we have one manufacturing hub in Bengaluru and will soon have maintenance hubs across India,” Nihar Vartak, co-founder and director, Asteria Aerospace, which is also a subsidiary of Jio Platform, was quoted as saying in the ToI report.
Ashok Wadhawan, who heads Adani Defence and Aerospace, told the newspaper: “We are promoting startups in the sector. We will soon start manufacturing a logistics drone capable of carrying a payload of up to 120 kg, and then come up with drones for other payloads. The group is looking at agriculture drones and want to be the market leader.”
Adani Defence and Technologies had announced Friday that it will acquire around 50 per cent stake in General Aeronautics, a Bengaluru-based firm, which deals with commercial drone making.
On the other hand, Reliance Group’s Asteria Aerospace is a complete technological firm which deals with drone making. Besides defence sector, it is associated with companies in agriculture, oil and gas, energy, telecom, mining, and construction sectors.