L&T partners with GA-ASI to manufacture MALE RPAS in India

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and US-headquartered General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) have formed a strategic partnership to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in India for the Indian armed forces. This collaboration, announced on October 31, 2025, aims to deliver combat-proven MALE RPAS platforms manufactured entirely within India.

Under the partnership, L&T will serve as the prime bidder, with GA-ASI as the technology partner, for the Ministry of Defence's upcoming 87 MALE RPAS programme. The collaboration will facilitate the production of GA-ASI's MQ-series RPAS, which are widely operational globally for surveillance and strike missions. This initiative supports the Government of India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' objectives.

L&T chairman & managing director S N Subrahmanyan highlighted that this partnership offers India a unique opportunity to indigenously manufacture state-of-the-art unmanned platforms, enhancing defense capabilities and advancing self-reliance in aerospace technologies. This move is expected to strengthen Indo-US defense collaboration and foster a competitive, globally integrated aerospace manufacturing base.