📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
Science
India's Science Ministry allocates Rs 151 crore for YETI heavy‑lift UAV project
✍️ EdexLive
🗓 15 Oct 2026, 02:46 AM
👁 8
The Ministry of Science has approved a Rs 151 crore funding package to develop the YETI unmanned aerial vehicle, a heavy‑lift drone capable of carrying large payloads.
New Delhi – The Ministry of Science and Technology has sanctioned a Rs 151 crore grant to kick‑start the development of the YETI unmanned aerial vehicle, a heavy‑lift drone designed to transport substantial payloads for defence, disaster‑relief and commercial applications. The project, announced through an official press release, marks one of the largest single‑investment initiatives in India's indigenous drone sector.
The YETI UAV is expected to feature a payload capacity of several hundred kilograms, extended flight endurance and advanced autonomous navigation systems. Officials say the platform will fill a critical gap in the country's ability to launch large‑scale aerial missions without relying on foreign technology.
Implementation will be overseen by a consortium of research institutions and private aerospace firms, with prototype testing slated for 2025 and series production targeted for 2027. The ministry highlighted the project's potential to generate high‑skill jobs and bolster India's strategic autonomy in aerial robotics.
Stakeholders anticipate that the YETI drone could also serve civilian sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure monitoring and emergency response, thereby broadening the economic impact of the investment.
The YETI UAV is expected to feature a payload capacity of several hundred kilograms, extended flight endurance and advanced autonomous navigation systems. Officials say the platform will fill a critical gap in the country's ability to launch large‑scale aerial missions without relying on foreign technology.
Implementation will be overseen by a consortium of research institutions and private aerospace firms, with prototype testing slated for 2025 and series production targeted for 2027. The ministry highlighted the project's potential to generate high‑skill jobs and bolster India's strategic autonomy in aerial robotics.
Stakeholders anticipate that the YETI drone could also serve civilian sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure monitoring and emergency response, thereby broadening the economic impact of the investment.