Samtel expands into space tech & drone manufacturing with ₹200 crore investment

New Delhi: Indian defence avionics company Samtel is expanding into space technologies and drone manufacturing and has set aside a budget of over ₹200 crore to diversify its product line over the coming years.

The company, which already makes defence electronics and is involved in indigenous programmes like the Advanced Light Helicopter and the Light Combat Helicopter, has created new teams to develop drone and anti-drone systems, as well as low earth orbit satellites.

A new drone division has been created that will focus on indigenous platforms with proprietary intellectual property. It plans to build long-endurance drones and establish long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities for unmanned systems.


In the space sector, it plans to develop low-earth orbit and miniature satellites and the first space project is expected to begin within the next few months. "We are looking to expand in space tech, particularly in LEO and space debris clearing mechanisms... I can say that there cannot be a better time for companies in this sector than today," said Puneet Kaura, CEO and MD of Samtel, which is targeting a ₹1,000-crore order book, on the back of domestic and global markets.