ZUPPA Sets Up Drone MRO Lab at Madras Regimental Centre to Empower India’s Defence-Drone Future

Chennai, June 16. In alignment with the Indian Army Chief’s visionary call in November 2024 for “A drone for every soldier” Dakshin Bharat Area in collaboration with ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt. Ltd., India’s only deep-tech drone developer and manufacturer, has taken up the responsibility of establishing a cutting-edge Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Lab at the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC).

This milestone comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a mission that underscored the urgent need for Indian soldiers not only to operate drones but to independently maintain and troubleshoot them during active conflict scenarios.

“The real challenge in drone warfare lies not just in flying them, but in understanding the intricate electronic systems—especially the impact of high electromagnetic fields (EMF) on sensitive onboard sensors,” said Sai Pattabiram, Founder & MD, ZUPPA Pvt Ltd. “That’s what our MRO lab will offer—a hands-on, tech-intensive learning framework built for scale.”

Proposal for this critical need was a result of various technical interactions between Lt. Gen. Karanbir Brar, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area and Zuppa. The proposal also included DGCA-certified drone pilot training and licensing, to be provided in partnership with TNUAV Corporation. Following approval, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ZUPPA and MRC to begin implementation.

A key differentiator of the ZUPPA MRO Lab is its comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS). The LMS offers modular, bite-sized lessons—from component identification to advanced EMF diagnostics—accessible remotely by instructors and learners alike. The MRC’s training team found this especially valuable for scaling instruction across mass Agniveer training programs. The Lab would also be used for training the retiring soldiers to enable them for post-service jobs in the Industry and currently serving armed forces professionals currently enrolled in various military courses.

“The Indian Army’s adoption of our fully indigenous MRO solution is a strong validation of both our technical expertise and our delivery model,” said Venkatesh Sai Co Founder and Technical Director of ZUPPA . “We see a huge opportunity to replicate this success across other regimental training centres.”

In addition to military collaborations, ZUPPA has also deployed its Innovation Labs at AICTE-approved institutions and engineering colleges, with a view to bridging defence requirements and academic research. Plans are underway to expand the MRO program to other technical arms of the Indian Army as well .

About ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

ZUPPA is India’s only deep-tech drone developer and manufacturer, specializing in autonomous navigation systems, drone operations, and drone training programs. Committed to Atmanirbhar Bharat, ZUPPA partners with both defence and academic institutions to build scalable, indigenous drone solutions for India’s future.