BENGALURU: The 515 Army Base Workshop (ABW) in Bengaluru, one of the eight ABWs in the country, has signed three strategic MoUs aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous drone manufacturing ecosystem and enhancing technological resilience, the ministry of defence (MoD) said Wednesday.“The agreements, signed on behalf of the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers under the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), mark a step towards reducing dependence on foreign technologies in unmanned systems,” a statement issued here read. An MoU with Nautical Wings Aerospace will focus on advancing propulsion technologies. The startup will support 515 ABW with expertise in electric propulsion systems, BLDC motor (brushless DC motor) integration, propeller optimisation and composite fabrication, while also training Army technicians.A second partnership with Yaanendriya Private Limited, incubated at ARTPARK (AI & Robotics Technology Park) at IISc, will centre on AI-enabled systems, including flight control systems, ground control stations, electronic speed controllers and GNSS-based navigation. The collaboration is expected to strengthen autonomous capabilities and cut reliance on imported components.“To address emerging security concerns, a third MoU has been signed with National Forensic Sciences University. The partnership will focus on drone forensics, cyber and hardware security assessment, and vulnerability analysis, helping develop safeguards against hostile drone use and cyber threats,” MoD said.As per MoD, the three agreements build on earlier collaborations with startups and research institutions, and aim to position 515 ABW as a technical hub for innovation. The initiative, it added, is aligned with the govt’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and is expected to support the Indian Army’s operational preparedness in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.