BITS Pilani Hyderabad startup delivers indigenous combat drones to the Indian Army

Apollyon Dynamics, a defence-tech startup founded by two students of BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus, has recently delivered indigenous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Indian Army units in Jammu, Chandimandir, West Bengal’s Panagarh, and Arunachal Pradesh within just two months of launching operations.

About Apollyon Dynamics

Founded by Jayant Khatri, a Mechanical Engineering student from Ajmer and Sourya Choudhury, an Electronics Engineering student from Kolkata, at BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus, Apollyon Dynamics specialises in the design and manufacturing of custom unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) tailored for India’s defence and surveillance needs.

The defence-tech startup founded by two students of BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, began as a prototype assembly unit in a hostel room that has now started delivering indigenous combat drones and kamikazes to the Indian Army, just two months after starting operations, the founders said on Tuesday.

“Designed for versatility in high-stakes environments, these drones are capable of executing a wide range of tactical operations from precision kamikaze strikes and covert nighttime surveillance to strategic payload deployment,” Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhury told PTI.

The founders’ shared passion for robotics and unmanned aerial systems gave birth to Apollyon Dynamics in early April this year.

“We officially incorporated Apollyon Dynamics in mid-May and immediately set to work on developing our flagship kamikaze drone, along with advanced surveillance and payload-delivery platforms tailored for military and strategic applications,” Jayant and Sourya said.

With the support of Sanket Goel, Dean of Research and Innovation, the team moved from makeshift setups to a state-of-the-art laboratory within the institute, they added.

Now operating from this lab facility, Apollyon Dynamics builds rugged, modular, and highly agile drones, custom-built to meet the demands of each mission, Jayant and Sourya said.

The startup recently demonstrated its technology at the BITS Pilani Campus, in the presence of its chancellor and chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla.

Popular products from Apollyon Dynamics

Among the startup’s most liked products is a trainer UAV, widely adopted by Army units for its ease of use and robust design.

It also provides complete hands-on training for soldiers, so that even those without prior flying experience can become proficient drone operators in a short time.

Apollyon’s lineup includes multi-role aerial vehicles for long-range surveillance, tactical payload delivery, and high-precision kamikaze operations.

Its flagship kamikaze platform can fly at speeds exceeding 300 km per hour and deliver payloads up to 1 kg with high accuracy, making it one of the most effective systems of its kind.

“The foundation at BITS Hyderabad empowered us to move fast, build responsibly, and solve real-world defence challenges,” said Jayant Khatri, co-founder, Apollyon Dynamics.

The startup is now working on next-gen VTOL platforms and fixed-wing systems to further extend mission flexibility and operational reach.

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