Drogo Aerospace Pvt Ltd, a Hyderabad-based defence technology company formerly known as Drogo Drones, has handed over the first batch of 41 JK 250e electric drones to the Indian Army’s Southern Command in Nashik, Maharashtra. The delivery is part of a larger ₹72 crore contract for 217 indigenous drones placed with the company. This milestone underscores India’s growing capability in manufacturing advanced unmanned aerial systems for military surveillance and reconnaissance under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Drogo Aerospace and the Delivery Milestone
Drogo Aerospace Pvt Ltd began its journey as Drogo Drones Pvt Ltd, founded in 2021 by Yeshwanth Bonthu, and has since evolved from a drone services provider into a full-spectrum aerospace and defence technology firm. The company, headquartered in Madhapur, Hyderabad, recently rebranded to reflect its broader focus on defence, aviation, unmanned systems, satellites, and advanced aerial intelligence platforms.
The first batch of 41 JK 250e drones was received by officials of the Southern Command in Nashik, Maharashtra. The Southern Command, headquartered in Pune, is one of the seven operational commands of the Indian Army and is responsible for the country’s southern and western sectors. The remaining 176 drones under the ₹72 crore contract are scheduled for delivery by August 2026.
Beyond this contract, Drogo Aerospace is establishing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Maheshwaram in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district. The Telangana government has allotted approximately 4.5 acres of land within the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster for this project. The upcoming facility, spanning 1,00,000 square feet, is expected to generate around 500 additional jobs, adding to the company’s current workforce of about 300 employees.
The JK 250e: An Indigenous Electric Surveillance Drone
The JK 250e is an all-electric unmanned aerial vehicle designed and manufactured entirely in India by Drogo Aerospace. The drone is built for surveillance, reconnaissance, and other critical military missions, offering an endurance of up to three hours on a single charge.
As an electric-powered platform, the JK 250e offers several operational advantages over conventional fuel-based drones. Electric propulsion produces a lower thermal and acoustic signature, making the drone harder to detect during missions. It also reduces logistical dependence on fuel supply chains, which is especially valuable in remote or high-altitude deployment areas.
The drone is intended to function as a tactical surveillance asset that can be deployed rapidly by ground units. In modern warfare, such low-cost, rapidly deployable drones serve as force multipliers, providing real-time battlefield intelligence without putting personnel at risk. The Indian Army has been actively integrating drones at the battalion and regiment level, with initiatives such as the Shaurya Squadrons embedded within armoured units to give commanders direct aerial surveillance and targeting capability.
A Bigger Push: India’s Defence Drone Ecosystem
The Drogo Aerospace delivery comes at a time when India is rapidly scaling up its indigenous drone manufacturing capabilities. Over 600 companies are currently engaged in manufacturing drones and components in India, with more than 100 firms catering specifically to the defence sector. Major players in this space include ideaForge, Newspace Research, Asteria Aerospace, TATA Advanced Systems, and Adani Defence.
The Ministry of Defence has been pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to boost domestic drone production. Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, the highest procurement priority is given to the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which mandates that equipment be indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured. The government has also issued multiple Positive Indigenisation Lists that identify defence items that will not be imported beyond specified timelines.
India’s defence production has grown significantly. In FY 2024-25, the country achieved its highest-ever domestic defence production of approximately ₹1.50 lakh crore, more than three times the ₹46,429 crore recorded in FY 2014-15. Defence exports have also surged, rising from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14 to ₹23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, with India now exporting to over 100 nations.
The Indian Army is currently pursuing what is expected to be the largest drone procurement programme in the country’s history, estimated at over $2 billion (more than ₹20,000 crore) from domestic manufacturers. This follows recent operational experiences, including the deployment of drones at scale during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which highlighted the battlefield effectiveness of low-cost unmanned systems.
The Road Ahead for Drogo Aerospace
Drogo Aerospace has outlined an ambitious product roadmap beyond the JK 250e. The company is actively developing indigenous loitering munitions, long-endurance UAVs, AI-powered aerial intelligence platforms, and advanced surveillance and reconnaissance systems. These products align with the Indian armed forces’ increasing demand for autonomous and semi-autonomous systems capable of operating in contested environments.
The company recently showcased its defence technologies at an industry exhibition in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the products and appreciated the company’s contribution to indigenous defence innovation. With its new manufacturing facility in Maheshwaram and a growing order book, Drogo Aerospace is positioning itself as a significant player in India’s rapidly expanding defence and aerospace sector.
Key Takeaways
- Drogo Aerospace Pvt Ltd (formerly Drogo Drones) delivered the first batch of 41 JK 250e electric drones to the Southern Command of the Indian Army in Nashik, Maharashtra.
- The total contract is valued at ₹72 crore for 217 drones, with the remaining 176 units to be delivered by August 2026.
- The JK 250e is an all-electric surveillance and reconnaissance drone with an endurance of up to three hours per charge.
- Drogo Aerospace was founded in 2021 by Yeshwanth Bonthu and is headquartered in Madhapur, Hyderabad.
- The company is setting up a 1,00,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility at Maheshwaram in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district, with an additional 500 jobs expected.
- India’s domestic defence production reached ₹1.50 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, and the Army is pursuing over $2 billion in indigenous drone procurement.
