Hyderabad-based Marut Drones has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Type Certification for its surveillance drone, the Skyswift 56. The quadcopter-class rotorcraft is designed for surveillance, mapping, and field training.
The certification makes Marut Drones the first Indian company with dual recognition for training and manufacturing, as the company claims.
The Skyswift 56 can carry multiple payloads, including a first-person-view camera, a 24MP mapping camera with PPK support, a 4K surveillance camera, and thermal imaging tools.
It is aimed at law enforcement, frontline response, and public safety operations. According to Marut Drones, the system can be deployed in under two minutes and packed into a backpack for rapid field use.
Security and Training Needs
Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and co-founder of Marut Drones, said, “Skyswift 56 is built to empower frontline personnel with silent, compact, and high-precision drone surveillance tools.”
He added that the drone is noiseless, thermal-equipped, and designed for low-visibility missions. It is also purpose-built for covert reconnaissance, patrolling, law enforcement, and public safety missions.
The company highlighted that the drone could reduce response times, cut operational costs, and improve detection of illegal activity. It is also built with weather-resistant and shock-absorbent materials and can reach speeds up to 15 metres per second.
Addressing India’s Drone Pilot Shortage
India’s drone market is projected to grow from $145 million in 2024 to more than $630 million by 2030. However, the industry faces a shortage of skilled drone pilots. Marut said its DGCA-certified drone will help bridge this gap by strengthening training programmes.
This year, two other drone startups in India received DGCA approval to train drone pilots. Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology Limited was certified to conduct its five-day Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) Training (Small Class) programme. The training was aimed at upskilling drone pilots nationwide, addressing regulatory standards, and enhancing operational safety.
Delhi-based AVPL International received authorisation to train drone pilots in the Medium-Class Rotorcraft category in India. This approval allowed the company to train pilots for drones weighing between 25 kg and 150 kg, making it one of the first few organisations in the country with this capability.
“With over one lakh drones already in use and numbers expected to touch one million by 2027, the lack of skilled pilots could slow India’s UAV growth,” Marut Drones said in a statement. It is estimated that upskilling drone operators could contribute to employment worth more than ₹6000 crore.
