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Indian defence drone technology company Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation (TNUAVC) to launch a structured drone pilot training programme for Agniveers, serving defence personnel and personnel transitioning out of the armed forces.
The programme, expected to begin in October 2026, will initially be conducted at the Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, with 200 personnel to be trained in the first batch. The programme is planned to scale up to about 1,000 personnel annually.
The four-week training will cover UAV flight simulation, rotorcraft and hybrid UAV operations, aerodynamics, drone maintenance, safety and risk assessment, basic assembly, practical flying, mission planning and applicable Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations.
Personnel meeting the prescribed requirements will be eligible for the DGCA-recognised Small Category Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) for drones weighing more than 2 kg and up to 25 kg.
The partnership is part of Zuppa’s plan to establish indigenous drone laboratories at Army regimental centres. The proposed labs will include micro and small-category drones, mission simulators and a learning management system, besides facilities for classroom instruction, simulator-based training, practical flying and drone maintenance.
The initiative is also aimed at enabling soldiers to undertake basic drone maintenance and repairs at the unit level, reducing dependence on external technical support and improving the turnaround time for damaged or non-functional drones.
Zuppa Founder and Managing Director Sai Pattabiram said the company plans to train and certify more than 2,000 Agniveers and defence personnel over the next three years.
“Building India’s drone ecosystem requires both indigenous technology and a skilled workforce capable of operating and supporting these systems. As drones become increasingly integrated into defence, security and other sectors, the need for trained UAV professionals is only going to grow,” he said.
The training, he said, would provide personnel with skills that could be used both in defence applications and the wider commercial drone industry.
Zuppa founder and CTO Venkatesh Sai said the programme would combine classroom instruction with simulator-based and hands-on training.
“Drone operations require more than theoretical knowledge. Practical exposure, standardised training and hands-on experience are essential to building capable UAV professionals,” he said.
Under the MoU, Zuppa will establish the drone laboratory and provide the required infrastructure, mission simulators, learning management system and training facilities. TNUAVC will provide qualified instructors and conduct the pilot training in accordance with applicable DGCA requirements.
The two organisations will jointly develop the curriculum, conduct assessments and facilitate the certification process.
The programme is intended to create a structured pathway for defence personnel to acquire operational and technical UAV skills while also providing them with potential employment opportunities in India’s expanding drone sector.
A TNUAVC spokesperson said the partnership would strengthen the organisation’s training capabilities with the armed forces.
Zuppa, which focuses on indigenous UAV solutions for defence and security applications, said the initiative is aimed at combining drone technology development with workforce training. The company said it has also received STQC certification.
Team BharatShakti
