“Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu highlights the need for India to develop indigenous jet and drone technologies amid debates on Tejas production. Discover his investment in Yali Aerospace and India’s plans for a self-reliant defense sector.” news
Sridhar Vembu, the Zoho ceo, has highlighted the necessity for India to velop its own jet and drone technologies, particularly amid ongoing discussions regarding the production of the Tejas fighter jet. In support of this vision, Vembu has announced an investment in Yali Aerospace, a drone startup based in Thanjavur, founded by Dinesh Baluraj and Anugraha. Yali Aerospace has created fixed-wing drones that can take off and land vertically, boasting a range of up to 150 kilometers and a payload capacity of 7 kilograms. These drones are intended to transport medical supplies, including medicines and organs, to any location in India in under 20 minutes via the Yali Network Bridge.
This investment is part of India’s larger initiative to strengthen its domestic defense capabilities. The country has long sought to create an indigenous military jet engine, beginning with the Kaveri project in the 1990s, which ultimately fell short of providing the necessary thrust for the Tejas light combat aircraft. However, India is now reigniting its ambitions with plans for a new “Made in India” jet engine in partnership with a Western company. Major candidates for this collaboration include General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and Safran, each offering unique proposals and political considerations. The chosen partner is expected to work closely with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop a top-tier engine.
In addition to these initiatives, senior officials from India and the US have convened to address important defense-related matters, such as military equipment procurement, technology transfer, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. A significant topic of discussion was the delayed delivery of engines for the Tejas fighter jet, which India has urged the US to expedite. The Tejas jets, produced by HAL, are powered by General Electric’s F404 engines. Delays in engine deliveries have consequently postponed the jets’ delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Furthermore, India and the US are engaged in discussions to co-develop.
Zoho Corporation, led by CEO Sridhar Vembu, has strategically invested in Yali Aerospace, a drone technology startup based in Thanjavur and founded by Dinesh Baluraj and Anugraha Ganeshan. This investment highlights Vembu’s commitment to promoting India’s development of homegrown jet and drone technologies, especially in light of ongoing discussions about the production of the Tejas fighter jet.
Yali Aerospace focuses on developing fixed-wing drones that can take off and land vertically, intended for uses such as medical deliveries, surveillance, and logistics. These drones have a range of up to 150 kilometers, can carry payloads of up to seven kilograms, and achieve speeds of up to 155 kilometers per hour.
This investment is part of India’s larger initiative to strengthen its domestic defense capabilities. The country has long sought to create an indigenous military jet engine, beginning with the Kaveri project in the 1990s, which ultimately fell short of providing the necessary thrust for the Tejas light combat aircraft. However, India is now reigniting its ambitions with plans for a new “Made in India” jet engine in partnership with a Western company. Major candidates for this collaboration include General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and Safran, each offering unique proposals and political considerations. The chosen partner is expected to work closely with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop a top-tier engine.
Additionally, senior officials from India and the US have convened to address important defense-related matters, including military equipment procurement, technology transfer, and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. A significant topic of discussion was the delayed delivery of engines for the Tejas fighter jet, which India has urged the US to expedite. The Tejas jets, produced by HAL, are powered by General Electric’s F404 engines. Delays in engine deliveries have consequently postponed the jets’ delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF)
