Apollo Micro Systems has received a significant boost in its defence manufacturing roadmap with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, formally granting the company an Industrial Explosives and Manufacturing Licence. Issued on December 1, 2025, the approval marks a major milestone in Apollo Micro’s expansion into high-value defence technologies, including unmanned aircraft systems, inertial navigation technologies, and advanced radar equipment.
The licence, valid for 15 years from the date of issue, is not just a regulatory formality but a critical prerequisite for participating in current and future manufacturing opportunities with the Ministry of Defence. According to the company, the approval opens doors for large-scale production programs that require fully compliant, government-authorised defence manufacturing capabilities.
Under this licence, Apollo Micro Systems is now authorised to manufacture equipment falling under the Defence Aircraft category, specifically unmanned helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The company is already developing multiple UAS platforms and working with a mix of domestic and international partners to build logistics and delivery drones as well as offensive unmanned systems. These platforms are advancing on schedule and are expected to enter field trials over the next two quarters.
The approval also extends to the manufacturing of specialised Allied Defence Equipment such as advanced Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). The company is actively developing a wide range of navigation technologies including MEMS-based systems, Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) platforms, and Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) solutions. To support this, Apollo Micro has begun procuring high-precision testing and calibration equipment to validate next-generation navigational subsystems and accelerate collaborative development efforts.
In addition to unmanned aircraft and INS technologies, the licence authorises Apollo Micro Systems to manufacture complete radar systems. This covers everything from radar assemblies and antennas to transmit–receive modules, signal processing units, and subsystems integral to modern radar architectures. The move positions the company to tap into growing domestic demand for indigenous radar solutions across defence and homeland security applications.
Apollo Micro Systems confirmed that there has been no withdrawal, suspension, or cancellation associated with the licence. With regulatory clearance secured, the company is now positioned to capitalise on emerging opportunities within India’s fast-expanding defence ecosystem, particularly as the government pushes for self-reliance under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs.
