Chennai: Indian defence drone technology company Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies and the Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation (TNUAVC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish indigenous drone-training laboratories at Army Regimental Centres and create a structured UAV pilot-training programme for Agniveers, serving defence personnel and veterans transitioning out of the armed forces. The programme is expected to begin in October 2026 at the Madras Regimental Centre in Wellington, with 200 personnel in the first batch and a planned capacity of around 1,000 annually thereafter.
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The four-week course will cover UAV flight simulation, rotorcraft and hybrid drone operations, aerodynamics, equipment maintenance, risk assessment, safety management, basic assembly, practical flying, mission planning and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations. Participants who meet the applicable requirements will be eligible for a DGCA-recognised Small Category Remote Pilot Certificate for drones weighing more than 2 kg and up to 25 kg.
Under the MoU, Zuppa will provide the laboratory infrastructure, micro- and small-category drones, mission simulators, learning management systems and training facilities. TNUAVC will deploy qualified instructors, while both organisations will jointly develop the curriculum, conduct assessments and facilitate certification in line with applicable DGCA requirements. The training will combine classroom learning, simulator sessions and hands-on flying experience.
The initiative also aims to build practical maintenance and repair skills among personnel, including the ability to conduct basic drone repairs at unit level. This could help reduce reliance on external technical support and improve the turnaround of drones for operational use, although the extent of any impact will depend on implementation and the systems covered by the training.
Zuppa Founder and Managing Director Sai Pattabiram said the company aims to train and certify more than 2,000 Agniveers and defence personnel over the next three years. The partnership links military UAV training with the wider commercial drone sector, potentially giving trained personnel transferable skills as they leave service.
The MoU comes amid growing attention to unmanned systems in defence operations and the need for personnel able to operate, maintain and support them. By placing training facilities at regimental centres, the initiative seeks to bring UAV skills development closer to serving troops while contributing to India’s domestic drone workforce.
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