Drone know-how in India has shifted quickly from novelty to necessity. As soon as used primarily for surveillance and cinematography, drones at the moment are being built-in into vital operations from high-altitude defence logistics to inner inspections at industrial amenities and large-scale agricultural spraying.
Whereas authorities schemes are selling adoption amongst rural communities, regulatory our bodies such because the Directorate Basic of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have streamlined certification processes to help a rising ecosystem of drone producers.
Amidst these developments, drones from Bengaluru-based producer Scandron are paving the way in which in high-altitude logistics, changing into the primary to obtain DGCA kind certification for logistics drones. These machines have efficiently flown with heavy payloads at excessive altitudes, delivering vital provides to the Indian Military troops stationed in a few of the world’s most treacherous and distant terrains.
In an unique interview with AIM, Arjun Naik, the founder and CEO of Scandron, shared his views on this {industry}, the corporate’s presence at Aero India 2025 and provided a sneak peek into Scandron’s upcoming collaborations with the Indian Navy.
These drones haven’t solely changed mules and porters in Himalayan army posts but additionally entered sectors similar to agriculture, inner industrial logistics, and infrastructure inspection.
Excessive Above the Himalayas
“We’ve had drones fly as much as 18,000 toes with 50 kilos,” Naik mentioned. “In January, in minus 20 levels Celsius, with 30-40 kmph winds and knee-deep snow, the drone took off, climbed above the clouds, and delivered provides the place no helicopter might go.”
Recalling one explicit mission close to Malari in Uttarakhand, Naik mentioned that the drone landed in a spot that was inaccessible even to helicopters. “The jawans clapped once we landed. They mentioned, ‘Now we’ll lastly get meals on this space.’” In locations the place porters take six hours to climb with 20 kg hundreds on their backs, Scandron drones full the job in simply 10 minutes.
Throughout one other such main take a look at, a drone took off close to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, ascending by snow, clouds, and fierce headwinds to achieve a army outpost throughout over 5,000 metres.
Furthermore, the corporate has constructed a devoted high-altitude testing and manufacturing facility in Leh. Drones are designed to function with decrease elevate capacities at larger altitudes, in stronger winds, and in extreme chilly circumstances. These diversifications embrace decreased payloads, extra energy buffers, and structural reinforcements.
“We don’t simply fly drones, we assist the armed forces perceive how one can use them,” Naik defined. “It’s not solely logistics anymore. The following query is: can we mount different tools, possibly even armaments?”
Agriculture Meets Automation
Scandron isn’t centered on defence alone. Its drones are collaborating within the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, empowering ladies farmers in India’s rural fields to spray crops extra effectively and safely. Guide pesticide spraying is being changed by AI-assisted, focused spraying that maps fields and applies chemical substances solely the place wanted.
“This cuts pesticide use and publicity,” Naik added. “We’ve even partnered with fertiliser corporations to search out optimum spray concentrations for various crops.”
Past spraying, Scandron is experimenting with district-level crop intelligence utilizing drone mapping, although Naik admits it would require extra coordination and authorities involvement to scale.
The corporate additionally helps massive photo voltaic parks by transporting photo voltaic panels inside huge amenities. “We’re the one firm that has drones massive sufficient to maneuver photo voltaic panels for set up,” Naik additional mentioned.
No AI Takeover Simply But
Regardless of the thrill round AI implementation, Naik is clear-eyed about what AI in drones actually means.
“There isn’t any AI ecosystem in drones. All that stuff like goal acquisition and autonomous warfare, that’s 20 years away,” he says. The corporate implements AI in its clever security algorithms.
Scandron drones are designed to resolve mid-flight if they will full a journey primarily based on battery standing and wind resistance. Additionally they have the potential to resolve if they’ve sufficient battery to achieve the vacation spot. “If a drone is 4 kilometres in, however has used 60% of its battery, it turns round routinely.”
Autonomy in these drones is restricted to features like pinpoint landings, impediment avoidance, and flight changes. “AI at this time is nice for security and information evaluation. That’s the place the actual software is,” he clarified.
The corporate additionally runs simulation-based design processes, however insists on stay testing in each situation. “You’ll be able to’t battle a warfare in a lab,” Naik mentioned. “Ultimately, you must fly the drone in snow, solar, rain, and wind.”
Grounded in India, Open to the World
Scandron designs its drones totally in-house and manufactures 90% of its elements in India. But, Naik is pragmatic about India’s electronics limitations.
“India shouldn’t be poised to fabricate electronics at this time,” he says. “We lack the infrastructure and know-how. Specialised elements like thermal cores or battery cells are made by just a few international gamers.”
Nonetheless, authorities incentives, streamlined drone certification processes, and entry to army testing zones are giving corporations like Scandron a platform to develop. Naik has additionally denied the existence of regulatory delays within the {industry}. “It’s a structured course of. Individuals simply count on the whole lot in a single day.”
Regardless of a robust home market, Scandron shouldn’t be insular. “We’re open to international partnerships, offered they add worth,” Naik mentioned. The corporate operates a drone-as-a-service vertical for industrial purchasers, together with Reliance and Indian Oil Company Restricted (IOCL), performing inner inspections throughout shutdowns. “What took a month with cranes, we do in hours with drones,” he famous.
Lengthy Flight Path Forward
India is the world’s third-largest consumer of drones after the US and Israel, pushed by lively defence zones and inner safety wants. Nevertheless, Naik cautions towards believing the hype surrounding the size of the Indian drone {industry}.
“Individuals say $10 billion market or $2 billion market. However we’re a fraction of that. Drones will not be mature but. We haven’t hit mainstream adoption.”
Naik believes the subsequent 5 to 10 years will carry consolidation. “It’s costly to remain within the recreation. We’ve invested ₹60 crore and haven’t seen income but, however that was deliberate.”
With a staff largely comprising 23-year-olds, Scandron takes coaching each new rent into its personal fingers. “Even [graduates] from IITs [aren’t] industry-ready…The essential customary has dropped…We prepare everybody.”
Regardless of the challenges, technical or monetary, Scandron continues its high-altitude climb. Whether or not it’s icy cliffs or photo voltaic parks, the corporate is betting on Indian engineering to hold weight far past expectations.
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