Make in India shines: Two 20-yr-old engineering students pitch 300 km/h kamikaze drone on LinkedIn, bag Indian Army deal
How LinkedIn and cold emails opened army gates
The startup's journey began not in a lab, but through LinkedIn and cold emails. Hoping to reach potential buyers, the duo sent out emails to defence officials. Their big break came when a colonel responded and invited them to Chandigarh for a demonstration. After several rounds of tests, the Army was convinced — and orders followed. That moment, Khatri said, was when Apollyon Dynamics officially took shape.
What makes these Kamikaze Drones unique
The drone developed by Apollyon Dynamics is not a typical commercial UAV. It's a high-speed kamikaze drone capable of flying over 300 km/h — around five times faster than most consumer-grade drones. It can carry a 1 kg payload and hit targets with precision. One of its key features is that it's radar-proof, making it harder to detect and more effective in combat situations.
Currently, the six-member student team is working on the development of more advanced Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) and fixed-wing drone platforms. These newer models aim to offer more flexibility in varied and challenging terrains.
Campus to combat: BITS backs their leap
The milestone has been recognised and appreciated within their campus. Professor Sanket Goel from BITS Pilani said the students' progress has been 'heartening.' He added that the startup has already secured multiple orders from the armed forces.
For Khatri and Choudhury, the goal was never just about creating a product but contributing to India's defence ecosystem. 'We wanted to reduce dependency on foreign defence tech,' they said. With orders now placed and units deployed, Apollyon Dynamics is no longer just a campus idea — it's part of India's frontline innovation.
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