Tamil Nadu govt. permits use of airstrip for exclusive drone operations in Kallakurichi

: Aerospace researchers of Anna University will use the defunct airport at Ulundurpet of Kallakurichi district for developing and testing Advanced Desert/High Altitude Swarm Drones. According to official sources, the Tamil Nadu government has granted permission to the Centre for Aerospace Research, a unit of Anna University at the Madras Institute of Technology here, to conduct drone trials for Swarm Drones at the Ulundurpet Airstrip — considering the availability of ground and air spacein the region — for a period of 6 months starting from December 20, 2024. Rescue operations Apart from strategic operations, the Swarm Drones — capable of providing live visuals, and delivering essential supplies such as food and medicines — will be useful in relief and rescue operations at disaster sites. The researchers had written to the State government requesting the allocation of land with low population density. According to K. Senthil Kumar, Director, CASR, the successful completion of the trials will have a transformative impact on the Tamil Nadu drone ecosystem by fostering innovation and boosting the industry. “It will pave the way for Tamil Nadu to become a hub of cutting-edge drone technology, attracting investments and enhancing its position in the global drone market.