Karnataka aerospace investment is set to rise with British defence equipment manufacturer Martin-Baker planning to invest ₹380 crore in the state and create more than 500 highly skilled jobs, Karnataka Industries Minister M.B. Patil said on Wednesday.
The company, which makes ejection seats used in military aircraft and life-support equipment for aircrew, has sought 10 acres in the fifth phase of the Harohalli Industrial Area for its proposed manufacturing plant. Patil said the land would be provided soon.
The minister made the announcement after meeting senior representatives of Martin-Baker and Tonbo Imaging. According to the information released by his office, Martin-Baker’s proposed facility is expected to support domestic manufacturing, maintenance and repair capabilities, as well as strengthen the local supply chain for defence equipment.
Patil said more than 900 Martin-Baker ejection seats manufactured by the company are already used in aircraft operated by India’s Air Force and Navy. He added that the company’s technology has a role in pilot safety and surveillance systems linked to military aircraft operations.
The proposed investment would place the new manufacturing facility within Karnataka’s existing industrial land and institutional framework. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board is involved in the land-allocation process, while Karnataka Udyog Mitra is among the state agencies represented in discussions with the companies.
The announcement also covered a separate proposed investment by Tonbo Imaging India, a deep-tech company working on defence technologies. The company plans to establish facilities for electro-optical and infrared systems, thermal imaging, advanced sensor technologies and automated defence equipment.
Tonbo Imaging has sought five acres within Bengaluru’s Information Technology Investment Region, or ITIR, to develop a high-power microwave manufacturing facility. It has also requested 130 acres at Mulawad in Vijayapura district for a testing facility.
Patil said Tonbo Imaging planned to conduct its testing, evaluation and demonstration activities at Mulawad. The proposed Bengaluru facility would focus on developing high-power microwave systems and related technologies, according to the minister’s statement.
The two proposals indicate that the state’s industrial land requirements are not limited to conventional assembly or manufacturing. Martin-Baker’s request is linked to a specialised aerospace manufacturing plant, while Tonbo Imaging’s proposal combines technology development, production and large-scale testing infrastructure across two locations.
The projects will require the completion of land-allocation and related administrative processes before construction and operations can begin. The minister’s statement did not specify construction schedules, production capacity, final investment timelines or the locations of the companies’ corporate operations beyond the proposed sites.
Martin-Baker representatives Robert Morgan, Tom Dutton and Krishnakumar attended the meeting. Tonbo Imaging was represented by chief financial officer T.S. Shivashankar, co-founder Cecilia D’Souza and vice-president D. Rajendrakumar. KIADB chief executive officer Govind Reddy, the industries minister’s technical adviser Aravind Galagali and Karnataka Udyog Mitra managing director Dodda Basavaraj were also present.
