Indian companies to offer UAV 3D printing systems for front-line deployment

The Indian Army deployed Zuppa's Ajeet Mini Hawk UAV (pictured) during the conflict with Pakistan in May 2025. Zuppa has partnered with DBZ to offer UAV 3D printing systems to the Indian Armed Forces. (Zuppa)

Two Indian companies – an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer and a 3D printer manufacturer – have partnered to offer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 3D printing systems that can be deployed at the front lines.

Venkatesh Sai, founder and technical director of UAV manufacturer Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies Pvt Ltd (Zuppa) told Janes in November that the company will collaborate with Divide By Zero Technologies (DBZ) to offer UAV 3D printing systems to the Indian Armed forces .

Sai said products of both the companies are in service with the Indian Armed Forces. The two companies will integrate their technologies and experiences in delivering these products to the Indian Armed Forces to build the tactical UAV 3D printing systems, Sai added.

3D printing

Zuppa said the partnership will develop “mobile rapid fabrication units [that are] deployable containerised systems capable of 3D printing and assembling [UAVs] directly at the front lines”.

These systems will enable manufacturing of structural components, repair, and mission-specific customisation of UAVs within hours in remote and high-risk environments, reducing reliance on centralised production and logistics chains, Zuppa added.

Sai said that a limited number of DBZ 3D printers are in service with the Indian Army's Corps of Electronics & Mechanical Engineers (EME). The Indian Army is already using these 3D printers, and 3D printers developed by the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to facilitate maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of UAVs, he added.