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Tag: #DroneTechnology

PhoQtek Labs Demonstrates GPS-Denied Autonomous Drone at IAF Dronathon 2026

In the landscape of modern electronic warfare, losing GPS isn’t just an inconvenience—it is a critical vulnerability that can ground unmanned fleets and blind reconnaissance missions. Addressing this urgent defense challenge, Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup PhoQtek Labs has successfully demonstrated a GPS-denied autonomous drone during the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Dronathon 2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range.

Held from September 14 to 16, 2026, and inaugurated by Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Dronathon 2026 was designed to push drone technology, autonomous systems, and counter-drone capabilities out of the laboratory and into realistic, contested field environments.

The Challenge: Surviving in a Contested Electromagnetic Spectrum

Conventional military and commercial drones rely heavily on GPS/GNSS signals for positioning, navigation, and critical functions like “return-to-home.” However, in a contested battlefield, adversaries routinely deploy electronic warfare (EW) tactics to jam or spoof these satellite signals.

When satellite navigation is disrupted, an aircraft can lose its bearings, drift off course, or crash. PhoQtek Labs’ demonstration at Pokhran specifically tackled this scenario, successfully flying an autonomous drone in conditions where satellite signals were denied and electronic jamming was actively present.

The Technology Stack: How PhoQtek Navigates Without Satellites

Incorporated in January 2025, PhoQtek Labs has rapidly developed a sophisticated suite of technologies to enable unmanned systems to “see” and “feel” their way through GPS-denied environments. Their approach relies on sensor fusion and edge computing rather than satellite positioning:

  • GarudaNAV: A visual-navigation module designed specifically for GPS-denied and degraded environments. It combines visual sensing with inertial data to support precise localization.
  • FOG IMU (Fibre-Optic Gyroscope Inertial Measurement Unit): Unlike standard MEMS sensors, FOG IMUs utilize the Sagnac effect to measure rotation with extreme stability. This provides highly accurate inertial data for aerospace and defense applications, minimizing navigation drift over time.
  • Visual-Inertial Odometry & Terrain Matching: By utilizing onboard cameras, the drone maps its surroundings and matches terrain or landmarks against its internal database to calculate its exact position.
  • KARN AI: An edge-based autonomous intelligence platform that processes all this sensor data onboard the aircraft. This allows the drone to make real-time navigational decisions without relying on cloud connectivity, high-bandwidth datalinks, or external infrastructure.

The company is also actively developing next-generation photonic integrated circuit-based inertial cores, aiming to further miniaturize and enhance these capabilities for future UAVs and UGVs.

Strategic Impact for the Indian Armed Forces

The ability to operate autonomously in a GPS-denied environment is rapidly becoming a baseline requirement for next-generation military drones. PhoQtek’s technology has several high-value strategic applications:

  1. Uninterrupted ISR: Surveillance and reconnaissance platforms can continue their missions deep inside contested airspace without fear of EW disruption.
  2. Retrofitting Legacy Fleets: PhoQtek has outlined plans to develop retrofit navigation kits. This would allow the military to upgrade existing, legacy multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAVs with GPS-denied capabilities, saving billions in replacement costs.
  3. Swarm Resilience: Autonomous drone swarms rely on precise relative positioning. GPS-denied navigation ensures swarms can maintain formation and coordinate strikes even when satellite links are severed.

The Bigger Picture: IAF Dronathon 2026

PhoQtek’s demonstration was part of a broader push by the Indian Air Force to indigenize and modernize its unmanned fleet. Alongside the field trials, the IAF used Dronathon 2026 to unveil Vayu UTtaM, an indigenous multi-mode Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system designed to track military and civil drones in real-time. The IAF also released a comprehensive roadmap for the future of unmanned and autonomous systems in the Indian military.

A Note on Verification and Next Steps

While the successful flight at Pokhran is a massive validation milestone for PhoQtek Labs, the defense-tech community awaits further technical telemetry. Publicly available data has not yet confirmed exact flight durations, precise navigation drift rates, payload capacities, or the specific spectrum of the RF jamming used during the trial. Furthermore, while industry reports highlight PhoQtek’s success, official claims of being the only company to successfully navigate the jamming environment have not been formally verified by the Ministry of Defence or the IAF.

Looking Ahead

For a startup incorporated just over a year ago, demonstrating edge-AI-driven, GPS-denied navigation at a premier IAF field exercise is a monumental achievement. The next phase for PhoQtek Labs will be translating this field-validation into repeatable, scalable, and measurable production systems. If successful, their technology stack could play a pivotal role in bulletproofing India’s autonomous defense fleet against the electronic warfare threats of tomorrow.

Apollyon Dynamics Raises Rs 4 Crore for Defense Drones

Innovation doesn’t wait for permission—and neither does Apollyon Dynamics.

Born in a hostel room at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus in May 2025, Apollyon Dynamics—a deep-tech defense startup founded by two 21-year-old BTech students—has just secured ₹4 crore in pre-seed funding to accelerate development of high-speed, precision UAV systems for India’s defense forces.

This milestone isn’t just about capital—it’s validation that young Indian engineers can build battlefield-ready technology at startup speed.

🔑 Key Highlights at a Glance

DetailInformation
CompanyApollyon Dynamics
FoundedMay 2025, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus
FoundersJayant Khatari & Sourya Choudhury (BTech Mechanical & Electrical)
Funding₹4 Crore Pre-Seed Round
Valuation₹25 Crore
Lead InvestorNaandi Ventures
Strategic InvestorsSkyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space, Agnikul Cosmos
Team Size20 members (scaled from 2 founders + 6 interns)
First Major ClientIndian Army (July 2025)
Core ProductHigh-speed kamikaze UAVs (>300 kmph, 1-kg precision payload)

⚡ The Breakthrough: 300+ kmph Kamikaze Drones for the Indian Army

Just two months after launching, Apollyon Dynamics received its first major validation: a request from the Indian Army to develop kamikaze drones capable of:

✅ Extreme Speed: 300+ kmph—nearly 5x faster than standard commercial UAVs
✅ Precision Payload Delivery: 1-kg warhead with high-accuracy targeting
✅ Rapid Deployment: Designed for real-world battlefield scenarios
✅ Indigenous Development: Entirely built by the in-house student-led team

This wasn’t a prototype pitch—it was a delivery. And it changed everything.

💬 “At this stage, our mantra is simple—build fast, iterate faster, and deliver.”
— Jayant Khatari, Co-Founder & CEO, Apollyon Dynamics

💡 Why This Funding Round Matters

🤝 Strategic Backing from SpaceTech Leaders

The participation of Skyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space, and Agnikul Cosmos—pioneers of India’s private space revolution—signals strong cross-sector confidence in Apollyon’s vision. As Jayant notes:

“Support from spacetech firms is a huge achievement. These founders have already made their mark. Their belief in our vision affirms that deep-tech innovation transcends domains.”

🏗️ Building Self-Reliant Defense Capabilities

A significant portion of the ₹4 Cr will fund:

  • In-house R&D: Accelerating iteration cycles for next-gen UAV architectures
  • Testing Infrastructure: Dedicated facilities for propulsion, guidance, and endurance validation
  • Manufacturing Setup: Reducing dependency on external vendors to maintain speed and quality control
  • Talent Acquisition: Hiring passionate engineers who want to build, not just work

🎯 Focus: Faster, Smarter, Deployable Systems

Apollyon isn’t chasing specs for specs’ sake. Every engineering decision ties back to one question:
“Can this system deliver decisive impact in real-world operational conditions?”

🌟 The Apollyon Playbook: How Two Students Built a Defense Tech Startup in Months

PhaseTimelineMilestone
IdeationEarly 2025Conceptualized high-speed UAV platform in BITS hostel
LaunchMay 2025Officially founded Apollyon Dynamics
First ContractJuly 2025Indian Army engagement for kamikaze drone development
Team Scale-UpAug–Dec 2025Grew to 20-member core team of engineers & specialists
Funding Close2026₹4 Cr pre-seed round led by Naandi Ventures

Key Success Factors: 🔹 Problem-First Approach: Started with a clear defense need, not just a cool technology
🔹 Speed Over Perfection: Prioritized rapid prototyping and field validation
t️ Lean Execution: Minimal overhead, maximum engineering focus
🔹 Ecosystem Leverage: Tapped BITS incubation support, mentor networks, and peer talent

🔮 What’s Next for Apollyon Dynamics?

With fresh capital and proven capability, the startup is targeting three strategic pillars:

1️⃣ Product Evolution
→ Next-gen UAVs with extended range, AI-enabled targeting, and swarm coordination
→ Modular payloads for ISR, electronic warfare, and precision strike missions

2️⃣ Infrastructure Independence
→ Commissioning proprietary testing ranges and manufacturing lines
→ Building end-to-end control over design-to-delivery cycles

3️⃣ Talent & Culture
→ Recruiting mission-driven engineers passionate about national security innovation
→ Fostering a “builder-first” culture where ideas move from whiteboard to battlefield in weeks, not years

🇮🇳 The Bigger Picture: India’s Defense Startup Revolution

Apollyon’s journey reflects a broader transformation in India’s defense innovation landscape:

✅ Policy Enablement: iDEX, Innovations for Defence Excellence, and relaxed procurement norms are opening doors for startups
✅ Academic Incubation: Institutions like BITS, IITs, and NITs are becoming launchpads for deep-tech ventures
✅ Private Capital Interest: Investors are increasingly backing defense tech with dual-use potential
✅ Youth-Led Innovation: Young engineers are proving that age isn’t a barrier to solving complex national challenges

📈 Industry Insight: India’s defense startup ecosystem raised over $500 Mn in 2024–25, with UAVs, AI/ML, and electronic warfare among the hottest segments.

🤝 Opportunities to Engage

Apollyon’s growth creates multiple pathways for collaboration:

🔹 For Engineers: Join a high-impact team building real-world defense systems
🔹 For Researchers: Partner on propulsion, guidance, or materials innovation
🔹 For Investors: Support a proven team with clear product-market fit and strategic backing
🔹 For Defense Stakeholders: Explore co-development of mission-specific UAV solutions

✨ Final Thought: When Passion Meets Purpose

Apollyon Dynamics proves that world-class defense technology doesn’t require decades of legacy—it requires clarity of purpose, speed of execution, and unwavering commitment to impact.

As India strengthens its strategic autonomy, startups like Apollyon aren’t just participants—they’re pioneers.

🚀 “We’re not building drones. We’re building deterrence.”

Apollyon Dynamics: From Hostel Room to Defence Frontlines in Just 60 Days

In an extraordinary example of innovation meeting national service, Apollyon Dynamics, a defence-tech startup born at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, has taken flight—quite literally—by delivering custom-built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to active Indian Army units across Jammu, Chandimandir, Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh, all within just two months of launching operations.

Founded by two enterprising students, Jayant Khatri, a Mechanical Engineering student from Ajmer, and Sourya Choudhury, an Electronics Engineering student from Kolkata, Apollyon Dynamics began as a modest prototype assembly operation in a hostel room. Today, it is building cutting-edge indigenous drones that are already in active deployment—proving that world-class defence technology can originate from a college dorm room.

The startup’s UAVs are designed for high-stakes military missions including precision kamikaze strikes, nighttime surveillance, and strategic payload delivery. Their flagship kamikaze drone boasts a top speed of over 300 km/h and delivers payloads up to 1 kg with pinpoint accuracy, making it one of the most advanced and effective systems in its category.

This rapid success was made possible with the backing of Dr. Sanket Goel, Dean of Research and Innovation at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, who supported the founders in transitioning from a makeshift setup to a state-of-the-art lab facility within the institute. Today, Apollyon Dynamics operates from this lab, designing rugged, modular, and mission-specific drones that address India’s evolving defence and surveillance needs.

Their growing lineup features multi-role aerial platforms for long-range surveillance, tactical payload drops, and high-precision kamikaze operations—a powerful mix of flexibility, speed, and intelligence in aerial warfare tech.

The team recently demonstrated their drone technology on campus in front of Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani and Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, earning praise for their vision and execution.

In an era where indigenous defence capabilities are more vital than ever, Apollyon Dynamics represents not just a technological breakthrough—but a symbol of youth-driven innovation and national strength.