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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Student-built radar-evading drones from BITS Pilani enter Army service
Two second-year engineering students from BITS Pilani's Hyderabad campus have designed and delivered radar-evading kamikaze drones to the Indian Army, according to a report by The Times of India. Their drones are now deployed across multiple operational zones, marking a rare instance of undergraduate-led defence innovation entering active military service. Jayant Khatri, a mechanical engineering student from Ajmer, and Sourya Choudhury, an electrical engineering student from Kolkata, co-founded their start-up Apollyon Dynamics just two months ago. The firm focuses on designing custom unmanned aerial systems (UAS) tailored for India's defence and surveillance needs. Deployed across four states The Indian Army has begun using these indigenously developed drones in units stationed at Jammu, Chandimandir (Haryana), Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh. Built using commercially available components, the drones were customised for varied Indian terrain and climatic conditions. The students initially reached out to Army officers via LinkedIn, eventually securing live demonstration opportunities. Khatri said he started sending cold emails to Army contacts until a colonel responded and invited them for a demonstration in Chandigarh. The students showcased bomb-dropping and high-speed racing drones, which led to more trials and subsequent procurement orders. These events marked the formal launch of Apollyon Dynamics. 300-kmph radar-evading kamikaze drone According to the report, the flagship drone from the start-up is a radar-evading kamikaze UAV capable of reaching speeds over 300 kmph—around five times faster than commercial drones—and delivering payloads of up to 1 kg with high accuracy. In addition to the hardware, the company also offers training programmes to help military personnel with no prior experience become capable drone operators quickly. Choudhury said the drones were not just fast but also undetectable by radar. The duo's collaboration began in a defence-tech club on campus, fuelled by a shared interest in robotics. With orders coming in, they quickly scaled up operations, bringing in six more students from BITS Pilani. Next-gen drone development underway The start-up is now developing next-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing drone platforms. Their goal is to expand India's indigenous drone capabilities while continuing to deliver agile, cost-effective, and combat-ready UAV systems to the armed forces.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Make in India shines: Two 20-yr-old engineering students pitch 300 km/h kamikaze drone on LinkedIn, bag Indian Army deal
Apollyon Dynamics, a startup launched by two engineering students from BITS Pilani-Hyderabad, has successfully delivered indigenous radar-proof kamikaze drones to several Indian Army units. Within just two months of starting their venture, founders Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhury sold their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to Army battalions in Jammu, Chandimandir (Haryana), Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh. Their drones are specifically designed for Indian terrain and mark a significant step towards self-reliance in defence technology. How LinkedIn and cold emails opened army gates The startup's journey began not in a lab, but through LinkedIn and cold emails. Hoping to reach potential buyers, the duo sent out emails to defence officials. Their big break came when a colonel responded and invited them to Chandigarh for a demonstration. After several rounds of tests, the Army was convinced — and orders followed. That moment, Khatri said, was when Apollyon Dynamics officially took shape. What makes these Kamikaze Drones unique The drone developed by Apollyon Dynamics is not a typical commercial UAV. It's a high-speed kamikaze drone capable of flying over 300 km/h — around five times faster than most consumer-grade drones. It can carry a 1 kg payload and hit targets with precision. One of its key features is that it's radar-proof, making it harder to detect and more effective in combat situations. Currently, the six-member student team is working on the development of more advanced Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing drone platforms. These newer models aim to offer more flexibility in varied and challenging terrains. Campus to combat: BITS backs their leap The milestone has been recognised and appreciated within their campus. Professor Sanket Goel from BITS Pilani said the students' progress has been 'heartening.' He added that the startup has already secured multiple orders from the armed forces. For Khatri and Choudhury, the goal was never just about creating a product but contributing to India's defence ecosystem. 'We wanted to reduce dependency on foreign defence tech,' they said. With orders now placed and units deployed, Apollyon Dynamics is no longer just a campus idea — it's part of India's frontline innovation.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Look who's making kamikaze drones for Army: Two 20-yr-old engineering students
Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhary HYDERABAD: Bomb-dropping kamikaze drones - 300kmph, radar-proof. Assembled inside a hostel room of BITS Pilani's Hyderabad campus. The Army buys in. Two 20-year-old engineering students of the institute have stunned India's defence circles by building and selling cutting-edge UAVs to Army units across Jammu, Haryana's Chandimandir, Bengal's Panagarh, and Arunachal Pradesh - all within two months of launching their start-up Apollyon Dynamics. Their mission: reduce India's dependency on imported drones. Jayant Khatri, a mechanical engineering student from Rajasthan's Ajmer, and electrical engineering student Sourya Choudhury from Kolkata built their drones with off-the-shelf parts, customised the systems for Indian terrain, and pitched them to Army officers via cold messages on LinkedIn. "I just started shooting cold emails to whoever I could find... Luckily, a colonel responded and called us to Chandigarh for a demo," Khatri said Monday. What followed was a whirlwind - a live demo of bomb-dropping and racing drones, followed by more demonstrations to military regiments. Orders began flowing in. The company was born. Their standout product: a kamikaze drone that hits speeds over 300kmph, five times faster than standard commercial UAVs, and delivers 1kg payloads with pinpoint accuracy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Our drones are not just fast - they can't be detected on radar," said Choudhury. The duo insists every UAV is built in-house with a focus on "ruggedness, reliability and adaptability". "Our shared love of robotics brought us together. We started with a defence-tech club on campus. Then came the orders - that's when we knew we had to go big," Choudhury said. The team now includes six second-year students and is working on next-generation VTOL & fixed-wing platforms to boost mission flexibility. They also offer hands-on training to military personnel - even those with no prior flight experience. "It's heartening to see what they've achieved," said professor Sanket Goel of BITS Pilani. In "3 Idiots", Joy Lobo's passion for machines died in silence - no support, no takers. In real life, two students built war-ready drones in a hostel room. The Army called back.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
300kmph, radar-proof: Army buys BITS-Hyd students' hostel-built drones
Hyderabad: Bomb-dropping Kamikaze drones — 300kmph, radar-proof. Assembled inside a hostel room of BITS Pilani's Hyderabad campus. The Army buys in. Two 20-year-old engineering students of the institute have stunned India's defence circles by building and selling cutting-edge UAVs to Army units across Jammu, Haryana's Chandimandir, Bengal's Panagarh, and Arunachal Pradesh — all within two months of launching their start-up Apollyon Dynamics. Their mission: reduce India's dependency on imported drones. Jayant Khatri, a mechanical engineering student from Rajasthan's Ajmer, and electrical engineering student Sourya Choudhury from Kolkata built their drones with off-the-shelf parts, customised the systems for Indian terrain, and pitched them to Army officers via cold messages on LinkedIn. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad "I just started shooting cold emails to whoever I could find… Luckily, a colonel responded and called us to Chandigarh for a demo," Khatri said, speaking to TOI on Monday. What followed was a whirlwind — a live demo of bomb-dropping and racing drones, followed by more demonstrations to military regiments. Orders began flowing in. The company was born. Their standout product: a Kamikaze drone that hits speeds over 300kmph, five times faster than standard commercial UAVs, and delivers 1kg payloads with pinpoint accuracy. "Our drones are not just fast — they can't be detected on radar," said Choudhury. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo The duo insists every UAV is built in-house with a focus on "ruggedness, reliability and adaptability". "Our shared love of robotics brought us together. We started with a defence-tech club on campus. Then came the orders — that's when we knew we had to go big," Choudhury said. The team now includes six second-year students and is working on next-generation VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing)) and fixed-wing platforms to boost mission flexibility. They also offer hands-on training to military personnel — even those with no prior flight experience. "It's heartening to see what they've achieved," said professor Sanket Goel of BITS Pilani. "Their start-up has already secured multiple orders from the armed forces." In "3 Idiots", Joy Lobo's passion for machines died in silence — no support, no takers. In real life, two students built war-ready drones in a hostel room. The Army called back.
