The first human-carrying drone in India, called “Varuna,” which was created by Pune-based startup Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited, will soon be used by the Indian Navy. At the plenary session of the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar conducted in July of this year, a demonstration of this personal air vehicle, an autonomous multi-copter drone capable of transporting the passenger, was exhibited.
‘Varuna’ was created and produced by the Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited business in Chakan. The makers assert that this drone can transport products such as liquids, machinery, and people using a standardised payload attachment.
This passenger drone can carry a variety of payloads in the space between its landing gear and can be remotely operated or flown automatically along predetermined itineraries. It can go 25 km in about 30 minutes and can carry payloads up to 130 kg.
#WATCH | ‘Varuna’ country’s first human-carrying drone, developed by the Indian startup Sagar Defence Engineering, will soon be inducted into Indian Navy pic.twitter.com/RhyjvAYn1E
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2022
The drone was created for the Indian Navy by Sagar Defence Engineering’s founder, Capt. Nikunj Parashar, and his two co-founders, Babbar and Lakshay Dang. This drone’s main goal is to create domestic technology that can be used to protect combatants and improve national surveillance and security while also protecting frontline soldiers on the battlefield.
Babbar claimed that when the project first started, the organization’s initial worries were about obtaining the necessary approvals and funding, but they were fortunate to receive assistance from the Navy, the iDEX team, and the ministry of defence, who connected the manufactures’ team with Mazgaon Dockyard Limited for funding.
Numerous advantages come with using this passenger drone, including the ability to evacuate victims of car accidents, serve as an air ambulance in rural areas, serve as an air taxi in major cities, and more.
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