Core Insights - Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has formed a strategic partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft systems in India for the armed forces [1][2] - L&T will act as the prime bidder for the Ministry of Defence's procurement of 87 MALE RPAS units, with GA-ASI providing technology support [2] - The collaboration aims to enhance India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing and aligns with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives [2][4] Company Overview - L&T is a $30 billion Indian multinational with a strong presence in engineering and precision manufacturing within the defense and aerospace sectors [4] - The company has maintained leadership positions in its core businesses for eight decades [4] Industry Impact - The partnership signifies a notable expansion of Indo-US defense cooperation and is expected to strengthen India's defense manufacturing ecosystem [4][5] - GA-ASI has extensive experience in unmanned aerial systems, with its Predator line having completed over 9 million flight hours globally [3]