India advances defence tech with high-speed interceptor and AI drones

India is seeing significant advancements in indigenous defence technology through the development of advanced unmanned systems.

Apollyon Dynamics, a Hyderabad-based startup, has set a record in the India Book of Records with its Ahuti Mk II electric interceptor drone. The UAV reached a certified top speed of 498 km/h, significantly surpassing the previous Indian multirotor benchmark of 325 km/h. Designed specifically to counter hostile drones and loitering munitions, the Ahuti Mk II represents a 66% speed increase over the company’s 2025 prototype. The startup has already fielded unmanned systems for units of the Indian Army.

Simultaneously, Pune-based AYAAN Autonomous Systems is expanding India’s capabilities in AI-driven drone warfare and swarm robotics. The company gained prominence after winning the Indian Air Force’s Mehar Baba Competition-II, where its swarm drone systems successfully detected foreign objects on aircraft surfaces. AYAAN’s portfolio includes UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT for applications ranging from border surveillance and homeland security to precision agriculture.