The 515 Army Base Workshop (515 ABW) in Bengaluru, one of the eight Army Base Workshops of the Indian Army, announced on Wednesday that it signed three strategic MoUs aimed at boosting indigenous drone manufacturing and ecosystem resilience. According to an official statement, the MoUS were signed on behalf of the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), and HQ Base Workshop Group.
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In an attempt to develop indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities, the 515 ABW signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based Nautical Wings Aerospace, a start-up specialising in advanced electric propulsion systems, vertical lift solutions, Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors and composite structures for UAVs.
Under the MoU, Nautical Wings will provide technical expertise and hand-holding of 515 ABW technicians in integrated propulsion systems, BLDC motor integration, propeller optimisation, and composite fabrication techniques on a required basis, 515 ABW said in a statement.
It also signed an MoU with Yaanendriya Private Limited, a deep-tech startup incubated at ARTPARK, IISc Bengaluru. This collaboration focuses on enhancing capabilities in AI-enabled Flight Control Systems (FCS), Ground Control Stations (GCS), Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC), and GNSS-based navigation systems, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign technology in autonomous platforms.
In order to ensure the security and resilience of these emerging technologies, a third MoU was signed by 515 ABW with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar. This partnership establishes a structured framework for technical cooperation in drone forensics, cyber and hardware security assessment and vulnerability analysis, the statement said, adding that, "NFSU will contribute its expertise to help develop robust analytical frameworks required for addressing evolving threats related to hostile drone usage, cyber compromise and hardware security risks."
These MoUs reinforce the commitment to support national security through indigenous capability development and civil-military integration, the statement said, adding, "By fostering industry handholding and inter-institutional cooperation, these initiatives will enable the 515 ABW to function as a prime technical incubator for innovation projects. Ultimately, this will support the operational preparedness of the Indian Army, ensure pace with fast-evolving technologies and align with the government of India's vision of strengthening technological self-reliance and enhancing Defence innovation ecosystems."