EndureAir gets $3.1mn RDI funding for SABAL-200 drone project
The funding will support research, manufacturing and field testing as EndureAir moves the SABAL-200 heavy-lift drone from TRL 5 to TRL 9.
EndureAir Systems has received $3.1 million (₹300 million) under the Research and Development Initiative (RDI) fund from the Department of Science and Technology, supported by the Technology Development Board, to support the development of its SABAL-200 heavy-lift drone. According to the company, it is the first drone company to receive backing in the first cohort announced under the initiative. The funding is expected to help advance the SABAL-200 project from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 9 while supporting the growth of indigenous technology capabilities.
The funding, structured as patient capital, will be used for research and development, technology upgrades, manufacturing capability and field-testing infrastructure. The move is expected to strengthen India’s efforts to develop high-payload drone systems domestically.
SABAL-200 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system designed to carry payloads of up to 200 kg. The drone has an endurance of 2.5 hours and an operational range of 200 km. The platform combines a variable-pitch rotor architecture with a turbocharged internal combustion engine and an advanced mechanical powertrain to support heavy-lift operations over long distances.
“Building deep-tech aerospace systems is a long-cycle effort that extends well beyond prototyping. It requires sustained investment across testing, iteration and validation before systems are ready for deployment,” said Abhishek, Founder & Director, EndureAir Systems . “The RDIF support allows us to take SABAL-200 kg from an advanced development stage to a field-ready platform, while continuing to build on indigenous design and engineering capabilities.”
EndureAir said its platforms are based on more than a decade of rotorcraft research and development. Earlier UAV systems, including SABAL-20 and SABAL-40, have been deployed across defence and civilian applications, including operations in high-altitude and difficult terrains. The company said SABAL-200 is designed to address logistics challenges in areas with limited access, supporting the movement of supplies to forward locations in defence settings and infrastructure work in remote regions for civilian use.
Founded in 2018 within the ecosystem of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, EndureAir has developed from an academic research initiative into a developer of UAV systems. The company said it designs and builds its platforms in-house with a focus on systems suited to Indian operating conditions.
The company added that the development is expected to support import substitution and create employment opportunities, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as it expands its manufacturing and operational footprint.
