IIT Kanpur-incubated startup EndureAir Systems has secured ₹30 crore in grant funding under the Indian government’s RDI scheme to develop its SABAL-200 kg heavy-payload drone platform, advancing its commercial deployment plans, according to inc42.com. This funding is part of the first cohort of five startups selected under the ₹1 Lakh crore RDI initiative.
EndureAir, founded in 2018 by IIT Kanpur aerospace professor Abhishek and his former students Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, will use the ₹30 crore grant to enhance R&D, upgrade technology, expand manufacturing, and strengthen field-testing infrastructure. The SABAL-200 kg drone is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial system capable of carrying payloads up to 200 kg with an endurance of 2.5 hours and an operational range of 200 km. The startup focuses on designing and manufacturing drone platforms suited for Indian conditions, targeting defence, surveillance, disaster management, and logistics applications.
This funding is significant as it supports indigenous development of heavy-payload drone technology, which is crucial for import substitution and job creation in Tier II and III cities. EndureAir’s UAV platforms, including earlier models SABAL-20 and SABAL-40, have already contributed to the domestic drone ecosystem. The government’s RDI scheme aims to boost innovation and manufacturing capabilities in strategic sectors like drone technology, positioning startups like EndureAir to address growing demand in defence and commercial sectors.
EndureAir plans to leverage the grant to scale its manufacturing capabilities and accelerate the commercial rollout of the SABAL-200 kg drone. The startup’s next milestones include completing advanced field tests and expanding production capacity to meet market needs, reinforcing India’s push for self-reliant drone technology development.