Bengaluru’s 515 Army Base Workshop signs multiple MoUs to strengthen indigenous drone manufacturing

The 515 Army Base Workshop (515 ABW) has signed multiple strategic MoU’s to strengthen indigenous drone manufacturing.

The Bengaluru-based 515 ABW, which is one of the eight Army Base Workshops of the Indian Army, has signed MoUs 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.

The Ministry of Defence said that these new strategic partnerships, built upon earlier successful collaborations with premier institutions and startups, mark an important step towards modernisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the field of unmanned systems.

To strengthen indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities, 515 ABW signed an MoU with Nautical Wings Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based startup specialising in advanced electric propulsion systems, vertical lift solutions, BLDC motors and composite structures for UAVs.

Under this framework, 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 an as required basis.

Additionally, 515 ABW 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.

To ensure the security and resilience of these emerging technologies, a third MoU was signed 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. 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,” the Ministry said.

It added that collectively, these MoUs reinforce the commitment to support national security through indigenous capability development and civil-military integration.

“By fostering industry handholding and inter-institutional cooperation, these initiatives will enable 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,” it added.