Solar Defence Starts Robotics, UAV Plant at Nagpur SEZ

• Solar Defence starts Nagpur UAV facility
• ₹12,800 crore investment in robotics, drones
• Plant targets 10,000 UAVs yearly capacity

Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd, conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for its robotics and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing facility at the MIHAN Special Economic Zone in Nagpur.

The ceremony was held on March 7, 2026 and was performed by Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Nitin Gadkari.

According to the company’s regulatory filing, the proposed facility will focus on the development and manufacturing of UAVs, robotics platforms and other defence technologies intended to strengthen domestic capabilities in autonomous and defence systems.

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Solar Industries India Group Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal told ANI that the facility will manufacture UAVs with an annual capacity of approximately 10,000 units, with operational ranges between 15 kilometres and 1,000 kilometres.

“In the future, India will require long-range missile UAVs and robotics. We already have a missiles and rockets manufacturing facility, but here we are focusing on UAVs, with a capacity of 10,000 units per annum, ranging from 15 km to 1,000 km in this facility. Robotics will play a vital role in defence, and we have estimated the production of around 1,000 robots specifically for the defence sector,” Nuwal said.

The company also announced plans to invest more than ₹12,800 crore in projects related to the production of robots, UAVs of various sizes and types, and long-range missiles.

Nuwal said that the company decided to expand into deep-technology projects after observing changes in global warfare trends.

“In this facility in Nagpur, we want to create capacity to produce 10,000 drones of different sizes and types as per requirements every year, along with 1,000 robots,” he said.

He added that the ₹12,800 crore investment will be made over the next three to four years, while the broader investment plan extends about 10 years under the Maharashtra government’s Mega Project and Thrust policy.

Nuwal said the first prototype robot from the facility is expected to be produced within a year.

Company officials said the project will expand the group’s defence manufacturing capabilities and may also support civilian and industrial applications.