Raghava Aerospace & Defence Pvt Ltd (RADPL) has inaugurated a new aerospace and defence facility in Kokapet, Hyderabad, strengthening its focus on indigenous technology development, advanced manufacturing and defence exports. The facility marks another step in the expansion of India’s private-sector defence industry under the country’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The facility was inaugurated by former Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy, who highlighted the rapid development of India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. He noted that private-sector companies are playing an increasingly important role in the development and production of defence systems, including missiles, bombs and guns.
Dr. Reddy also highlighted the growing opportunities for Indian defence companies in international markets. He pointed to the increasing visibility of Indian-made defence systems overseas and encouraged Raghava Aerospace & Defence to combine its focus on indigenous development with a stronger export-oriented strategy.
The new Hyderabad facility has been established around three primary areas: research and development, electronic systems design and manufacturing, and composite structures. Its infrastructure includes a Class 100,000 cleanroom for microwave assembly, RF and microwave testing facilities supporting frequencies of up to 40 GHz, electrostatic-discharge-controlled assembly and integration laboratories, and a complete composite manufacturing line.
These capabilities are designed to support the development, qualification and production of advanced aerospace and defence systems for both Indian and international requirements. The facility consolidates several specialised technologies and capabilities that the company has built through its expansion and acquisition strategy.
RADPL has integrated five acquisitions into a single design, qualification and production platform. These include DTS, which specialises in electronic warfare and wideband RF technologies; HQPPL, focused on missile-borne RF systems and telemetry; Signalinx Techsystems, which works on FPGA-based embedded systems and power electronics; Rainbow Advanced Composites, which produces ablative and FRP missile components; and Aerospace Advanced Composites, which focuses on large composite structures and thermal protection.
A key development announced during the facility launch was RADPL’s joint venture with Peridot Advanced Materials for the MALE-300 programme. The indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft is designed with a modular payload capacity of 300 kg, an endurance of up to 30 hours and an operational altitude of around 30,000 feet. The programme is intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and features Indian ownership of its design intellectual property.
The launch comes as India seeks to strengthen its domestic defence industrial base and increase the participation of private companies in advanced defence technology programmes. The government has allocated ₹1.39 lakh crore of the defence budget towards indigenous manufacturing, creating opportunities for Indian companies to expand production and technology development.
For Hyderabad, the new facility further reinforces the city’s position as an important aerospace and defence manufacturing hub. With capabilities spanning electronics, electronic warfare, RF systems, composites and unmanned platforms, Raghava Aerospace & Defence aims to build an integrated technology base capable of serving both domestic defence requirements and international markets.
The inauguration therefore represents more than the opening of a new manufacturing facility. It reflects the broader shift in India’s defence industry towards indigenous design, private-sector participation and export-oriented manufacturing, while strengthening the country’s long-term ambitions for greater strategic and technological self-reliance.
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