Odisha Greenlights ₹300 Crore Advanced Drone Facility by IG Defence

Defence technology firm IG Defence has received approval from the Odisha government to establish a ₹300 crore multi-drone manufacturing facility in Ganjam district. The proposal was cleared at the 144th meeting of the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA), chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, as part of a broader round of industrial approvals worth ₹4,111.80 crore.

The facility will produce a range of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including tactical and mission-specific drone platforms, as well as electronic warfare (EW)-enabled systems. IG Defence said the unit will leverage its proximity to key defence establishments such as DRDO laboratories, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) facilities, the Ordnance Factory network, and the AD Gopalpur test range.

“This facility is a strategic step towards strengthening indigenous production and ensuring an assured, scalable supply of mission-critical systems. It reflects our long-term commitment to building defence infrastructure that meets the real operational requirements of the armed forces,” said Maj Gen R C Padhi, Senior Vice President of IG Defence.

IG Defence also noted that some of its drones and counter-drone platforms have already been deployed in field operations, including Operation Sindoor, and have been inducted by the Indian Army and Indian Navy. The company recently received orders for over 5,000 first-person view (FPV) kamikaze striker drones from multiple defence forces, including explosive-integrated platforms designed for precision strike and other operational needs.

Officials said the new Ganjam facility will support the development and production of indigenous EW-enabled unmanned systems and other defence technologies, with certain platforms potentially positioned for export to partner countries, subject to regulatory approvals.