Taking the lead in creating a drone ecosystem

Tamil Nadu government has identified two unused airstrips to set up a drone hub

With the ever-increasing usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as drones, for various applications, the Tamil Nadu government has identified two unused airstrips to set up a drone hub. It is reaching out to national and international companies to set up their facilities there.

Last month, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Corporation (TNUAV) set up with an investment of ₹10 crores. This would enable the government to provide a large number of services, especially in agriculture (aerial spraying).

The Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TANDICO), an arm of Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), plans to convert an unused airstrip in Ulundurpet or Cholavaram into a potential drone hub. The State has approached the Ministry of Defence for approval, B. Krishnamoorthy, Project Director, TANDICO said. Stakeholders including the Indian Air Force are on board about the proposal, he said.

To reduce entry barriers for drone companies, TANDICO is in the process of setting up a drone testing facility. This would either be under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme or other scheme to enable drone manufacturers test their products, which would be an additional enabler for drone manufacturing in the State.

The hub will have common facilities that will facilitate the drone companies to collaborate with each other while also competing. “Since many of these are small companies, we will give them space to grow where we will lease out space when they want to expand their operations,” Wing Commander P. Madhusoodhanan, the domain expert consultant for TANDICO, said.

According to him, with the Centre unveiling the Drone Policy last year, the Red Zones — where drones cannot fly — in Tamil Nadu has shrunk drastically. Drone companies are considered as aerospace and defence companies as it provides lots of incentives.

TANDICO has signed MoUs with companies such as ARC Ventures, Vinata Aeromobility, and Vinveli Group for making drones, anti-drones. Another company, Big Bang Boom Solutions, is in the process of finalising a joint venture with TANDICO.