Sagar Defence opens Pune plant to boost US-India maritime technology collaboration
Pune, December 4, 2025. Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd. has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Pune to produce uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), giving fresh momentum to its partnership with Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company. The two firms had earlier announced a collaboration to co-develop and co-produce advanced maritime systems.
The Pune plant will support local manufacturing of USVs designed to strengthen undersea domain awareness and advance production capabilities for the Wave Glider platform. The development marks a significant step forward under the US-India Major Defence Partnership, aimed at enhancing co-production, expanding industrial participation, and building manufacturing capacity across the Indo-Pacific.
“This plant opening is a proud milestone for Sagar Defence and for India’s defence ecosystem,” said Capt Nikunj Parashar, Founder of Sagar Defence Engineering. “It reflects our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and positions the country as a hub for next-generation maritime innovation through our partnership with Liquid Robotics.”
Salil Gupte, President of Boeing India and South Asia, said the facility demonstrates how growing defence cooperation between India and the US is taking shape on the ground.
“It advances the US-India Major Defence Partnership framework and supports ‘Make in India’ by building capability locally while co-developing systems that strengthen bilateral collaboration in defence technology,” he said.
Liquid Robotics CEO Shane Goodenough described the plant’s inauguration as a pivotal step in the companies’ joint efforts.
“Building and sustaining the Wave Glider platform locally will strengthen undersea domain awareness and accelerate deployment. By combining Liquid Robotics’ product expertise with Sagar’s innovation, we aim to deliver enhanced operational capability,” he noted.
The new facility highlights the shared commitment of both companies to expanding India’s defence industrial base. By enabling local manufacturing, ocean testing, and lifecycle support for unmanned maritime systems, the partnership brings together global technological expertise and Indian innovation to offer advanced solutions for emerging maritime challenges.
