Drogo delivery lifts Army drone capacity

Hyderabad-based Drogo Aerospace has delivered 41 JK 250e surveillance drones to the Indian Army, advancing a ₹72-crore order that places the defence technology firm among a growing group of domestic companies supplying unmanned systems for frontline military use.

The first batch was received by officials of the Army’s Southern Command in Nashik, Maharashtra. The delivery forms part of a 217-drone contract, with the company aiming to supply the remaining 176 units by August 2026. The schedule gives Drogo Aerospace a tight execution window at a time when demand for tactical drones is rising across reconnaissance, border monitoring and battlefield support roles.

The JK 250e drones have been developed and built by Drogo Aerospace for surveillance, reconnaissance and other military missions. The platform can fly for up to three hours on a single charge, giving field units extended aerial coverage without depending on conventional runway infrastructure. The drone’s role is centred on intelligence gathering and real-time observation, areas that have become central to ground operations as armies adapt to a battlefield shaped by low-cost aerial systems, loitering munitions and sensor-driven targeting.

Drogo Aerospace founder and chief executive Yeshwanth Bonthu said the delivery validates the company’s technology base, manufacturing capability and commitment to national security. The company is now working on indigenous loitering munitions, long-endurance UAVs, AI-powered aerial intelligence platforms, advanced surveillance systems and reconnaissance products aimed at future operational requirements.

The order also marks a transition point for the company, formerly known as Drogo Drones Pvt Ltd. Its rebranding as Drogo Aerospace reflects a broader move beyond conventional drone manufacturing into defence, aviation, unmanned systems, satellite-linked platforms and aerospace technologies. Headquartered in Madhapur, Hyderabad, the firm has positioned itself as a next-generation unmanned systems developer at a time when procurement policy is opening more space for private manufacturers and specialised start-ups.

The company is setting up a 100,000-square-foot drone manufacturing facility at Maheshwaram in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district. The state government has allotted about 4.5 acres to the firm within the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster for the project. The facility is expected to generate around 500 additional jobs, adding to an existing workforce of about 300. The investment is designed to support scale production as defence orders move from prototypes and limited trials to larger supply commitments.

The delivery comes as the armed forces are accelerating induction of drones for tactical and operational roles. Planned domestic military drone orders may exceed $2 billion this year, with deliveries expected over 18 to 24 months. More than 600 drone and component companies now operate in the country, including over 100 focused on defence applications. The sector includes large industrial groups as well as specialist start-ups developing reconnaissance platforms, logistics drones, loitering munitions, precision-strike systems and critical components.

Battlefield developments over the past three years have sharpened the focus on unmanned systems. The war in Ukraine demonstrated how inexpensive drones can alter artillery targeting, logistics interdiction and frontline surveillance. Conflicts in West Asia have further highlighted the value of layered air defence, counter-drone technology and rapid intelligence cycles. Along the northern and western frontiers, persistent surveillance has become a core requirement for ground formations operating across difficult terrain and extended lines of control.

The Ministry of Defence has also widened support for smaller firms through innovation challenges and procurement pathways aimed at turning prototypes into deployable systems. Under the iDEX framework, hundreds of start-ups, MSMEs and individual innovators have entered the defence innovation ecosystem since 2018. Dozens of prototypes have received procurement clearance, and contracts worth thousands of crores have moved from concept development into acquisition. This has helped shorten the distance between battlefield requirements and production-ready technology.

For Drogo Aerospace, execution of the JK 250e order will test its ability to deliver at scale while maintaining quality and mission reliability. Military drone contracts require not only airframe performance but also secure communications, rugged field handling, dependable batteries, payload integration, training, maintenance support and spare availability. The Army’s experience with the first batch is likely to shape follow-on acceptance, deployment tempo and confidence in the remaining units due by August.