Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and US-based defence firm General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) have announced a strategic partnership to manufacture advanced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Indian Armed Forces. Under the collaboration, GA-ASI, the maker of the MQ-9 Reaper, will provide critical technology transfers to L&T, in line with the Government of India’s indigenous content requirements aimed at strengthening the domestic defence ecosystem. According to a joint statement, L&T will act as the prime bidder in the Ministry of Defence’s programme to procure 87 MALE UAVs, with GA-ASI serving as the technology partner. The project has reportedly been fast-tracked following the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s indigenous MALE-class UAV programme, which did not meet key performance benchmarks for altitude and endurance. The partnership follows a major Rs 292 billion ($3.5 billion) deal signed between India and the United States in 2024, under which India will acquire 31 MQ-9B drones — comprising 15 SeaGuardian UAVs for the Indian Navy and eight SkyGuardian UAVs each for the Army and Air Force. Deliveries are expected by early 2029. The MQ-9 Reaper, one of the world’s most advanced unmanned systems, can operate at altitudes above 30,000 feet, offering over 24 hours of endurance and equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors that enable continuous surveillance and precision strike capability. L&T Chairman and Managing Director S.N. Subrahmanyan said the collaboration represents a milestone in India’s defence manufacturing ambitions. “This partnership offers India a unique opportunity to indigenously manufacture state-of-the-art unmanned platforms, significantly enhancing our defence capabilities and advancing self-reliance in aerospace technologies,” he said. The agreement is expected to bolster India’s strategic deterrence and surveillance capacity, while also building a robust domestic supply chain for advanced aerospace systems under the Make in India initiative.