IG Defence to Set Up ₹300 Cr Drone Manufacturing Hub in Odisha

IG Defence (previously IG Drones) has received approval from the Odisha government to set up a ₹300 crore drone manufacturing centre in Ganjam district, the company said in a statement. 

The approval was issued by the 144th State Level Single Window Clearance Authority in New Delhi. The project will focus on unmanned aerial systems for defence use, and the facility will manufacture mission-specific drone platforms and related defence technologies. 

In the same round of approvals, Odisha cleared industrial investments worth ₹4,111.80 crore. The company said the new facility will strengthen its national production network and support future operational requirements.

The project aims to strengthen domestic production and support export programmes to partner nations. The company plans to use the state’s existing defence testing and research infrastructure to support development and manufacturing.

IG Defence said the facility will develop electronic-warfare-enabled unmanned systems and other mission-critical platforms. It will work alongside the defence ecosystem in Odisha, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited facilities.

Speaking on the approval, Major General RC Padhi, Senior Vice President, IG Defence, said, “The facility is a strategic step towards strengthening indigenous production and ensuring assured, scalable supply of mission-critical systems.”

As an IP-led defence technology firm, the company said its platforms have seen field deployments, including during Operation Sindoor. Several of its systems have been inducted by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy, and it has also previously signed contracts with Uttar Pradesh for a drone corridor, the Indian Air Force for base safety, AICTE and Odisha for drone centres of excellence.  

The company also said it has received orders for more than 5,000 FPV kamikaze striker drones from multiple defence forces and has secured patents. These include explosive-integrated and precision-strike configurations.

This project will strengthen India’s domestic aerospace and defence manufacturing capacity and support the state’s industrial development plans and national self-reliance goals.