Tata Elxsi, a global leader in design and technology services, and the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership for advanced air mobility. This collaboration focuses on driving innovation in emerging areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), urban air mobility (UAM), and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The partnership combines CSIR-NAL's extensive aeronautical expertise with Tata Elxsi's technological capabilities in electrification, AI/ML, sensor fusion, and certification processes to support both global and Indian markets.
The global market for UAVs and UAMs is evolving rapidly, with applications spanning industries such as logistics, agriculture, defence, and urban transportation. This partnership aims to accelerate product development cycles for these sectors by leveraging advanced testing infrastructure, methodologies, and expertise. Tata Elxsi and CSIR-NAL will jointly focus on technologies such as aerodynamic design, autonomous systems, and secure communications to meet the unique needs of manned and unmanned air mobility systems.
India offers significant opportunities through initiatives like Make in India, indigenisation, and the growing demand for advanced air mobility solutions. This partnership will contribute to building a robust ecosystem of precision manufacturing, component suppliers, and tool vendors. It will also help shape industry regulations and standards, fostering a sustainable framework for innovation and commercialisation in India.
Manoj Raghavan, Managing Director & CEO of Tata Elxsi, said: "We believe the future of aerospace innovation lies in technologies like UAVs and urban air mobility. This strategic partnership with CSIR-NAL combines our strengths to push the boundaries of innovation and accelerate the development of next-generation air mobility solutions for our customers globally."
Dr. Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-NAL, said: "Partnering with Tata Elxsi marks a crucial development in our mission to innovate within the aerospace sector. CSIR-NAL's deep expertise in aerospace research and testing, alongside Tata Elxsi's advanced technology and design expertise, will enable us to develop innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions that will shape the future of urban transportation."
As part of this collaboration, Tata Elxsi and CSIR-NAL also envision creating a robust ecosystem that integrates precision manufacturing, tools, components, and vendor partnerships.
