New Delhi: Sagar Defence Engineering marked a historic milestone with the stone-breaking ceremony of the world’s first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre on March 12, 2026, at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour, Andhra Pradesh. The project represented a major step forward in strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and advancing the nation’s maritime technological capabilities.
The foundation stone for the centre was laid by Shri Nara Lokesh Garu, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resources Development, IT, Electronics & Communications and Real Time Governance, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The ceremony was presided over by Shri Dagumati Venkata Krishna Reddy Garu, Member of Legislative Assembly, Kavali. The ceremony was also attended by Members of Parliament Shri Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy Garu (Nellore Lok Sabha), along with Shri Beeda Ravichandra Yadav Garu, Member of Legislative Council. Other distinguished attendees included Shri Damacharla Satya Garu, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board; Shri Abhishek Kumar, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board; Shri Ramkamal Prasad Singh Garu, Master Chief Electrical Radio Artificer (Retd.), Indian Navy and Capt. Nikunj Parashar Garu, Founder & Chairman, Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
Founded in 2015 by Capt. Nikunj Parashar, along with Mridul Babbar, Lakshay Dang, Saurabh Patil and Ankit Kumar, Sagar Defence Engineering began its journey from a 150 sq. ft. workspace in Mumbai with a mission to revolutionise India’s defence landscape through unmanned and autonomous technologies. Over the past decade, the company has grown into a pioneering defence technology enterprise with a 10-acre defence manufacturing and R&D campus in Pune, developing advanced unmanned systems across maritime, aerial, terrestrial and sub-surface domains. At the heart of these innovations lies its platform-agnostic Self-Learning Command & Control Module for Navigation (GENISYS), enabling intelligent, autonomous operations across multiple platforms.
The company’s growth has been supported by key institutional and government initiatives that strengthened India’s defence innovation ecosystem. Early recognition came with the MIS–DP World Prize in 2016, presented by the Hon’ble Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Ji, followed by the National Startup Award in 2019 from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Continued support through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme, along with investment from organisations such as ONGC and guidance from the Indian Armed Forces and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), enabled Sagar Defence Engineering to develop cutting-edge technologies, including Autonomous Weaponised Boat Swarms, Autonomous Underwater Swarm Drones, and other autonomous solutions for the defence sector.
A major milestone in the company’s journey was realised with the support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, which authorised the allocation of 29.58 acres of land at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Nellore district, including 7.58 acres of waterfront land and 22 acres of harbour land, enabling direct sea access for vessel construction, launch, testing and deployment for the establishment of the world’s first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre. The initiative aligned with the state’s vision to strengthen India’s marine technology ecosystem and build advanced manufacturing capabilities along its coastline. Through close collaboration with the state government and leadership under Shri Lokesh Nara, the project reflected a shared commitment to expanding defence innovation and maritime industrial growth in the region.
The Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre at Juvvaladinne has been envisioned as a transformative hub for the development, testing, and manufacturing of next-generation autonomous maritime systems. As the maritime industry globally continues to move toward robotics, artificial intelligence, and unmanned platforms, the centre will enable real-time trials, rapid prototyping, and the validation of advanced autonomous surface and underwater technologies. The centre will focus on developing platforms such as Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Intelligent Navigation Systems, Maritime Sensors and Communication Networks, and Command-and-Control Platforms for Autonomous Operations. These technologies will enable maritime systems to operate with minimal human intervention, enhancing efficiency, safety, and operational capabilities.
The facility will incorporate advanced shipyard capabilities, including an AI-driven Shipyard Management System that can automatically coordinate design, production, testing, and maintenance processes while predicting material requirements, operational risks, and project timelines. The shipyard will also deploy digital twin technology, creating virtual replicas of vessels and shipyard infrastructure to simulate performance, test upgrades, and optimise designs before real-world deployment.
Smart manufacturing technologies will further strengthen the shipyard’s operational capabilities through robotic fabrication systems for automated welding, cutting, painting, and assembly, along with autonomous material handling using robots and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that transport components across the yard. The facility will also utilise additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the rapid production of specialised components and spare parts. In addition, the shipyard will incorporate autonomous launch, recovery, and docking systems, enabling vessels to move safely from dock to sea through self-guided mechanisms supported by vision systems, lidar sensors, and GPS-based navigation technologies for precision movement and deployment.
The project will be developed over a dedicated harbour and waterfront area to facilitate shipbuilding, testing, and deployment of autonomous maritime systems. By integrating research, engineering, testing infrastructure, and manufacturing capabilities within a single ecosystem, the facility is expected to accelerate innovation cycles while reducing dependence on foreign testing and development facilities. In addition to strengthening coastal and maritime security, the centre will support applications in shipping, ocean research, fisheries monitoring, offshore energy, and disaster management.
The initiative is also expected to support the development of smart fishing fleet networks, where vessels can connect to satellite and cloud-based systems to access real-time fish location maps, weather alerts, fleet coordination tools, and mechanisms for detecting illegal fishing activities. Autonomous maritime technologies developed at the centre will further enhance safety for fishermen by enabling distress signal detection, delivery of emergency supplies such as life rafts, identification of missing boats, and monitoring of ocean and weather conditions, capabilities that are particularly valuable in cyclone-prone coastal regions such as Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking on the occasion of the stonebreaking ceremony, Capt. Nikunj Parashar, Founder & CEO, Sagar Defence Engineering, said, “At Sagar Defence Engineering, our vision is to redefine how maritime systems are designed, built, and operated. The Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre represents the next chapter in that journey. As global maritime operations increasingly move toward autonomy, this facility will enable India to design, test, and manufacture next-generation unmanned maritime systems within the country. With the support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, we are building a platform that will accelerate indigenous innovation, strengthen maritime security, and position India as a global hub for autonomous maritime technologies.”
Marking the launch of this landmark project, Honourable Minister Shri Nara Lokesh Ji said, “I would like to thank Nikunj Parashar for believing in Andhra Pradesh and making the state a part of Sagar Defence Engineering’s growth journey. When I first met him and saw the vision for this project, it reinforced my belief that when policymakers, bureaucrats and entrepreneurs come together, we can truly rewrite India’s growth trajectory. This project is deeply personal for me. During my padyatra on these very roads, I met fishermen here and promised to support them and transform opportunities for their families. The Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre is not just about maritime technology, coastal security or the blue economy, it reflects that commitment. With India’s 7,500-km coastline and Andhra Pradesh having the country’s second-longest coastline, the maritime sector must become a major growth driver for our economy and our coastal communities.”
Beyond technological advancement, the project is expected to generate significant regional and national impact. The centre will contribute to strengthening India’s maritime defence capabilities, support the development of indigenous autonomous platforms for naval and security operations, and expand opportunities for the broader defence manufacturing ecosystem. It is also expected to drive economic growth in the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, create high-skilled employment opportunities, encourage industry partnerships, and establish the state as a key hub for advanced maritime technology and manufacturing. During the ceremony, attendees also witnessed live demonstrations of Sagar Defence Engineering’s Naval Spotter Drone and UAV platforms, showcasing the company’s autonomous surveillance and maritime monitoring capabilities.
As the project progresses, the research and development centre can be utilised to find retrofit solutions for fishing fleets that will help the fisherman communities.
Leveraging Juvvaladinne’s modern fishing harbour facilities and coastal access, the project enhances India’s maritime technology ecosystem aligned with international trends towards autonomous shipping. It supports sustainable fisheries by promoting safer and more efficient vessel operations with reduced human risk and operational costs.
As global maritime operations increasingly adopt autonomous and intelligent systems, the Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future of maritime innovation. By enabling the development of cutting-edge unmanned platforms for defence, logistics, fisheries, disaster response, and port operations, the centre will contribute to a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced maritime future while strengthening India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.