Apollyon Dynamics, a defence technology startup founded by two BITS Pilani, Hyderabad students, has quickly moved from a small prototype workshop in a hostel room to delivering homegrown combat drones and kamikaze UAVs to the Indian Army just two months after starting operations, the founders announced Tuesday.
The company, co-founded by Jayant Khatri, a Mechanical Engineering student from Ajmer, and Sourya Choudhury, an Electronics Engineering student from Kolkata, has supplied unmanned aerial vehicles to Indian Army units stationed in Jammu, Chandimandir (Haryana), Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh.
Focused on reducing India’s reliance on imported drone technology, Apollyon offers a range of versatile UAVs designed for long-range surveillance, tactical payload delivery, and precision kamikaze missions. Their flagship kamikaze drone flies over 300 km/h, carrying payloads up to 1 kg with pinpoint accuracy, ranking it among the most effective systems available. “Built for diverse and challenging missions, these drones perform precision strikes, covert night surveillance, and strategic payload delivery,” explained founders Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhury.
The concept of Apollyon Dynamics originated in April this year from the founders’ shared passion for robotics and unmanned systems. Officially incorporated in May, the startup immediately began developing its kamikaze drone alongside surveillance and payload delivery platforms tailored for military use.
Supported by SanketGoel, Dean of Research and Innovation at BITS Pilani, the team upgraded from makeshift setups to a fully equipped laboratory on campus, enabling them to build rugged, modular, and agile drones customized to mission requirements.
Apollyon made its official entry into the defence supply chain after a live demonstration in Chandigarh last May, showcasing the drones’ speed, agility, and durability. The impressive performance secured multiple orders from army units positioned at strategic locations.
The startup focuses on designing and manufacturing unmanned aerial systems entirely in-house, emphasizing durability and adaptability to Indian environments and mission profiles. A popular product is their trainer UAV, known for its user-friendly design and durability, which comes with hands-on training programs enabling soldiers with no prior experience to quickly become skilled drone operators.
Recently, Apollyon presented its technology at BITS Pilani in the presence of Chancellor and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.
With a core team of around ten members, the company is currently developing next-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones and fixed-wing platforms to enhance operational flexibility and reach. Looking forward, Apollyon Dynamics plans rapid growth with the ambition to become one of India’s top defence system manufacturers within five years, the founders shared.
