BonV Aero, an Indian pioneer in heavy-lift transport-class UAV technology, has made history by becoming the first company in the country to complete a 60-kilometre Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flight while carrying a 20-kilogram payload. This milestone places BonV Aero at the leading edge of India’s emerging unmanned logistics sector, with promising applications in defence, disaster response, and connecting remote regions.
The UAV mission was completed in 75 minutes at an average speed of 48 km/h, showcasing the operational maturity of BonV Aero’s proprietary propulsion and energy systems, designed specifically for high-endurance, high-payload applications.
“This is a defining moment for Indian drone logistics,” said Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-founder and CEO, BonV Aero. “It’s the first time a domestic UAV has demonstrated this level of range and payload together in a BVLOS flight. We’re ready to take drone-based logistics beyond test beds and into real-world missions.”
Built for critical last-mile delivery, battlefield resupply, and operations in challenging terrains, BonV Aero’s heavy-lift platform offers a reliable alternative where traditional infrastructure or air transport is impractical.
“We’re building for India’s toughest geographies, where roads end and helicopters are expensive or risky,” added Gaurav Achha, Co-founder and Co-CEO. “This milestone proves we can deliver meaningful payloads over long distances, safely and repeatedly,” he added.
This latest breakthrough builds on BonV Aero’s high-altitude world record set in 2023,When the machine lifted 30kgs cargo at 19,024 feet (5,799 metres) at Umling La Pass, Ladakh outperforming legacy rotary aircraft in similar conditions.
With back-to-back breakthroughs in altitude, endurance, and payload, BonV Aero is shaping the future of unmanned logistics for both military and civilian sectors globally.
