LEH: Indian aerospace start-up BonV Aero has been honoured with the SIDM Champion Award (Special Jury) for innovation in defence technology. The award, presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, acknowledges the firm’s indigenous work in heavy-lift, high-altitude drone systems designed to address critical defence capability gaps.
The company’s technology has been validated in the field, with platforms operationally deployed in Ladakh’s high altitudes, where they have conducted missions with payloads up to 10 kg in challenging terrain and weather conditions. These milestones confirm the platform’s suitability for low-density air and high-altitude logistics missions.
The firm’s core research and development capabilities were further evidenced by a recent achievement- a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight covering 60km with a 20kg payload, sustaining 75 minutes of endurance at normal altitudes. Beyond technology, BonV Aero recently conducted an extended 15-day operational training program for Army Jawans from multiple Ladakh-based units, equipping them with structured classroom instruction, field-level flying experience, and stringent competency assessments. This initiative aims to strengthen frontline capabilities by enabling Jawans to confidently operate logistics drones in high-altitude operational environments.
Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-founder and CEO of BonV Aero, said, “This recognition from SIDM and the Ministry of Defence is a proud moment for our team. It confirms our belief that India’s defence strength lies in indigenous innovation. Our systems are built to perform where it matters the most, from high-altitude frontiers to rapid-response tactical environments.”
BonV Aero’s future plans centre on scaling up manufacturing and developing advanced electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) platforms. The company aims to increase collaboration with defence entities to build next-generation logistics systems, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in critical aerospace technology.