Hyderabad: Telangana stepped up its plan to become the Defence Strategic Hub of India, Minister for Information Technology and Industries D. Sridhar Babu said on Tuesday. He stated that the state was building an ecosystem for unmanned systems, drone technology and advanced defence manufacturing. Moreover, he said the government was preparing a detailed roadmap to support long-term defence innovation.
According to the Minister, the plan includes a Drone Manufacturing and Testing Corridor to boost indigenous capability. He added that unmanned aerial systems, satellites, cyber systems and artificial intelligence now shape modern warfare. Therefore, he said self-reliance in drone manufacturing remains essential for national security.
Telangana advances Defence Strategic Hub roadmap
Sridhar Babu made these remarks during the Bhoomi Pooja for the JSW Unmanned Aerial Vehicle facility at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster in Maheshwaram. JSW Defence, in partnership with Shield AI, is investing ₹850 crore in the project. He said India’s defence UAV market could reach up to $5 billion by 2030. Consequently, Telangana aims to position itself to benefit from this projected growth by building a strong innovation ecosystem.
He further noted that global defence firms such as Elbit Systems and Schiebel already operate in Hyderabad. Their presence, he said, reflects the state’s rising stature in defence and aerospace production.
The new JSW facility will span 16 acres and produce up to 300 VBAT drones each year. It will also house integrated production, repair and testing units. JSW expects operations to begin by the end of next year and plans to generate around 300 skilled jobs. JSW Defence founder Parth Jindal, MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy and senior officials attended the ceremony.
At the foundation laying ceremony of the JSW Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Facility at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC), Maheshwaram., our focus was on strengthening Telangana’s role as a Defence Strategic Hub. The State is shaping a clear roadmap centred on unmanned… pic.twitter.com/NhfglroEp5
— Sridhar Babu Duddilla (@OffDSB) December 2, 2025