3D print drones India: Two Indian private companies have joined hands to give the Indian military something new and powerful. Now, soldiers will be able to make and fix drones right near the battlefields instead of waiting for deliveries from big factories. This new idea can help the Army make hundreds of drones quickly during war or emergencies.
Zuppa, a deep-tech company that builds drones and smart sensor systems, has teamed up with Divide by Zero Technologies (DBZ), a top Indian maker of industrial 3D printers. Together they are building mobile rapid fabrication units, which are like small factories inside containers. These special containers can travel to army camps or forward areas and help make drones on the spot.
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3D Print Drones India
People from the companies told ThePrint that the idea started while working with the Indian Army. The Army already has many workshops run by the Corps of Engineers where soldiers fix and repair drones. They said that if a full war ever happens, each Corps may need around 1,500 to 2,000 drones every day, including Kamikaze and surveillance types, to replace those lost or damaged, reported The print.
Because of this, it is not smart to depend only on large drone factories. A company source said, “Hence depending on a full-fledged drone manufacturer is not ideal. Our technology now allows the Army to 3D print the fuselage, chassis, wings and integrate them with already procured components like motors, autopilot, camera, electronics and other payload depending on the operational need.”
Over the next 2 to 3 years, the military is expected to start assembling smaller Kamikaze and surveillance drones on its own. Indian companies like Zuppa will keep making other parts and technology that help the drones fly. Zuppa, which has already delivered more than 600 drones to the military, said it wants to act like “the Intel in the drone sector” by focusing on building local technology and components instead of importing them.
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Factories in the Frontline
The new Rapid Fabrication Container Units will combine Divide by Zero’s industrial 3D printing systems with Zuppa’s smart drone platforms and AI-based mission control software. This setup will let soldiers make parts, assemble drones, and send them on missions in real time. The drones can be used for surveillance, supply delivery, or even tactical operations in dangerous or remote areas.
Venkatesh Sai, Co-Founder and Technical Director at Zuppa, said, “This collaboration is a major step toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in frontline technology. By enabling rapid, on-demand drone manufacturing right at the field, we’re giving defence forces unprecedented autonomy and adaptability.”
Divide by Zero’s founder and CEO, Swapnil Sansare, also shared his excitement. He said, “Our partnership with Zuppa transforms this belief into a tangible solution—bringing high-speed 3D printing from the factory floor to the battlefield.”
Sources said that users will be able to 3D print any type of drone they want, not just Zuppa’s own models. This gives the Army full freedom to make drones that fit their exact needs.
Similar ideas are already getting popular in other countriees for example, in the US, Firestorm Labs has also made mobile units that can produce drones near battle zones. Now India is taking a big step in the same direction.
