Aatmanirbhar Defence Sector: BEML And IIT Kanpur To Develop Tactical UAVs and Pilotless Target Aircraft To Cut Imports

Bengaluru-headquartered defence public sector undertaking (PSU) BEML has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur for joint indigenous development of Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) and tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The MoU was signed in the virtual presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.

Both the organizations would synergize respective capabilities and undertake feasibility study, design & development, testing & validations of UAV and PTA, the BEML said in a statement.

"The jointly developed products would substitute the currently imported UAVs and PTAs and aims to achieve self-reliance at a reduced cost," the BEML said.

"This will also help to foster innovation and technology development in Defence & Aerospace by engaging various Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia," it said.

This will enable BEML to achieve a quantum jump in Defence & Aerospace Business and provide a big thrust in ‘Atmanirbharta’ in the Defence Sector.

The potential customers will constitute of Armed Forces, Paramilitary & Civilian, it said.