India Takes Flight with RRP and CYGR Drone Partnership
- RRP Defence (India) and CYGR (France) are setting up a drone manufacturing facility in Navi Mumbai under the Make in India initiative.
- The facility will produce tactical, nano, and ISR drones using French-American technology and Indian manufacturing.
- A $20 million defence export contract is underway, with plans to produce hundreds of units annually for global markets.
In a major boost to India's defence and aerospace capabilities, RRP Defence Ltd (RRP Group), through its subsidiary Vimananu Ltd, has entered into a strategic partnership with French firm CYGR to establish a cutting-edge drone manufacturing facility in Navi Mumbai under the Make in India initiative.
The facility will focus on producing next-generation drones for tactical, surveillance, and industrial applications. These include hand-launched fixed-wing drones, nano drones, and advanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) platforms, combining French-American drone technology with Indian manufacturing prowess.
“This collaboration is a defining moment for India’s UAV ecosystem. By combining our local manufacturing strength and field understanding with CYGR’s world-class drone technologies, we’re building systems that meet India’s unique operational needs”, said Rajendra Chodankar, Chairman of RRP Defence.
CYGR Director George El Aily emphasized India’s importance as a strategic partner. “We are not only transferring technology but also co-developing future-ready solutions to support India’s defence and surveillance landscape”, he said.
Further highlighting the scale of the initiative, Dr. Zaynah, Global Advisor to the project, revealed that an initial defence export contract worth over $20 million is being offloaded under the Make in India framework, with production scaling into hundreds of units annually.
The partnership reflects India’s rising prominence as a global drone hub, driven by indigenous innovation, strategic international collaboration, and a focused push toward self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
