Coimbatore: Thanjavur-based startup Pullinam Aerospace Technologies has signed a binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Coimbatore-based Skyworks Aviation International to supply 100 light aircraft in a deal valued at Rs 175 crore to Rs 200 crore.The agreement covers Pullinam’s PAT-LSA01, an indigenous two-seater Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft currently under development in both electric and internal-combustion engine variants.The LOI was signed on Thursday at the National Aerospace and Aviation Startup Conclave, organised by the Institute of Aeronautics, Astronautics and Aviation (IAAA) and StartupTN at the Nehru Institute of Technology campus in Coimbatore.The deal follows eight months of technical discussions and negotiations. Skyworks began talks in January after the aircraft was showcased at the Tamil Nadu Global Startup Summit in Oct 2025.“This binding LOI validates our design and market readiness well ahead of our flight-test phase over the next two years,” said Prof CS Karunakaran, founder and CEO of Pullinam Aerospace.Pullinam has also secured an LOI from the Indian Army Aviation wing’s Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik, indicating potential applications in pilot training, surveillance and leisure flying.The company plans to set up its aircraft manufacturing facility at Sengipatti village in Thanjavur district and expand its operations across Tamil Nadu.“We are planning to sell the aircraft for Rs 1.5 crore to the commercial sector and Rs 1 crore to the defence sector,” Karunakaran said.He said Tamil Nadu has 13 unused airstrips that could support the use of indigenous light aircraft for personal and commercial purposes.The deal strengthens Tamil Nadu’s push to develop an indigenous aerospace manufacturing ecosystem beyond its established automotive and precision engineering base.
