In a remarkable feat, Apollyon Dynamics, a defense-tech startup born in a BITS Pilani Hyderabad hostel room, has begun supplying cutting-edge combat drones to the Indian Army just two months after its inception. Founded by 20-year-old students Jayant Khatri (Mechanical Engineering, Ajmer) and Sourya Choudhury (Electrical Engineering, Kolkata), the startup is redefining India’s defense landscape with indigenous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Apollyon Dynamics has delivered high-speed, radar-evading kamikaze drones to Army units in Jammu, Chandimandir (Haryana), Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh. These drones, capable of exceeding 300 kmph and delivering 1 kg payloads with precision, are designed for diverse terrains and missions, including surveillance, tactical payload delivery, and kamikaze strikes. “Our drones are built for high-stakes operations, from covert nighttime surveillance to precision strikes,” Khatri and Choudhury told PTI.
The startup’s journey began in April 2025, fueled by the duo’s passion for robotics. After incorporating Apollyon Dynamics in mid-May, they transitioned from hostel experiments to a state-of-the-art lab at BITS Pilani, supported by Dean of Research and Innovation, Sanket Goel. A breakthrough came after Khatri’s cold LinkedIn messages secured a live demo in Chandigarh, impressing Army officers with the drones’ speed, durability, and maneuverability. This led to multiple procurement orders.
Apollyon’s flagship kamikaze drone, assembled in-house with off-the-shelf parts, is rugged, reliable, and tailored for India’s defense needs. Their trainer UAV, praised for its user-friendly design, is widely adopted by Army units. The startup also provides hands-on training, enabling soldiers with no prior experience to operate drones proficiently.
The team, now including six second-year students, recently showcased their technology before Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani and Chairman of Aditya Birla Group. Looking ahead, Apollyon is developing next-generation Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing platforms to enhance mission flexibility. “Our goal is to make India self-reliant in defense technology,” said Choudhury.
With a vision to become a leading defense manufacturer within five years, Apollyon Dynamics is a testament to student innovation meeting national security needs. “The foundation at BITS Hyderabad empowered us to move fast and solve real-world defense challenges,” Khatri said.