Nagpur: A specialised drone manufacturing and testing facility will be set up at Kuhi in Nagpur district under the state govt’s upcoming aerospace and defence policy, said Dushant Deshpande, director of the Vidarbha Defence Industries Association (VDIA), at the Viksit Bharat Conclave. Deshpande also serves as a member of the committee formulating the policy.Addressing a panel discussion on Friday, Deshpande said the Kuhi project will be one of five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) proposed across the state. Among the other key initiatives is the specialised nuclear-aeronics facility planned in Saoner.Highlighting emerging trends, Deshpande said network-centric warfare systems are set to define the next phase of defence technology. “The nature of warfare is changing rapidly, with a growing reliance on interconnected systems, data, and precision technologies,” he said. Citing Israel’s advanced airspace defence capabilities, he added that its wars with Hamas and Iran show the importance of indigenous technology.Deshpande said VDIA has already incubated 10 to 12 startups and described Nagpur as an ideal platform for aerospace and defence ventures. “Nagpur is one of India’s largest hubs for explosives manufacturing and offers excellent exposure for industries looking to scale in the defence sector,” he said. He also pointed to the increasing role of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which enable operational efficiency while reducing direct human involvement in high-risk battlefield environments.He emphasized that aerospace and defence projects typically require a gestation period of around five years, demanding vigilance, patience, and perseverance from entrepreneurs. “This is not a sector where results come overnight. It requires sustained commitment and long-term vision,” he said.Deshpande added that substantial govt grants of around ₹1,500 crore are currently available for defence and aerospace innovation, though awareness remains limited.Urging startups to focus on fundamentals, Deshpande said, “Do not run after valuation, that is your biggest nemesis. Focus on creating real value by building around a core problem statement,” he said, adding that Nagpur has the potential to emerge as a leading aerospace and defence hub if its capabilities are effectively harnessed.City businessman and one of the founding members of VED, Dilip Kamdar, reflected on his entrepreneurial journey and the evolving business landscape in Nagpur, emphasizing that while times and terminology may change, the fundamentals of building a successful business remain constant. “If you know how, you will have a job. If you know why, you will be the boss,” he said. Recalling his early days, Kamdar noted that the heart of Nagpur’s commercial activity in the 1970s was Jhansi Rani Square, where he began his restaurant venture. He stressed that Nagpur continues to offer immense opportunities, with all necessary resources available locally, and that what is truly needed is a paradigm shift in mindset. Kamdaradded that earning ₹30,000 in Nagpur can offer a better quality of life than ₹60,000 in cities like Pune or Bengaluru.
