The Technology Development Board (TDB), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has committed ₹151 crore in debt financing to support ideaForge Technology Limited in developing YETI, an autonomous aerial vehicle designed for logistics operations in challenging terrain. The total project cost is ₹302 crore, with TDB providing half the funds through its Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.
YETI is a vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL-FW UAV) intended to transport heavy payloads over long distances in remote and difficult-to-access areas. The development project aims to advance the technology from its current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 to TRL-9, which represents a mature, deployment-ready system.
Key facts
- Financial commitment: ₹151 crore by TDB as debt financing
- Total project cost: ₹302 crore
- Payload capacity: up to 200 kg
- Operating range: up to 200 km
- Maximum operating altitude: 6,500 metres above mean sea level
- Takeoff and landing footprint: approximately 15 metres × 15 metres
- Funding mechanism: RDI Fund of TDB
- Technology progression: TRL-4 to TRL-9
What is YETI and how does it work
YETI combines two distinct flight capabilities in a single platform. It can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, eliminating the need for conventional runways, while also functioning as a fixed-wing aircraft for longer-distance cruising. This hybrid design allows it to operate from small, unprepared landing areas in locations where ground infrastructure is absent or limited.
The vehicle incorporates distributed and redundant propulsion and power systems. This means multiple propulsion units and power sources are spread across the platform, ensuring that if one component fails, the system can continue operating safely. This redundancy is critical for autonomous operations in remote areas where recovery or repair may be difficult.
Intended operational environment and applications
YETI is specifically engineered for environments where conventional transportation methods face practical or logistical constraints. Its weather-resistant design allows operation in high-altitude regions, deserts, marine conditions and other demanding settings. The platform can navigate without GPS signals (GNSS-denied navigation), which is valuable in areas with poor or unreliable satellite coverage or where such signals may be unavailable.
The vehicle can operate with communication links extending up to 200 km, and it is designed to support swarm operations, meaning multiple YETI units can coordinate and work together. The platform also supports containerised transportation, enabling rapid deployment and movement of supplies across geographically challenging locations.
Why this matters for India
Heavy-lift autonomous aerial platforms address a specific gap in India’s logistics and disaster response capabilities. India’s geography includes mountainous regions, island territories and areas with poor road connectivity. YETI is intended to reduce response times and improve supply chains in such locations by bypassing terrain limitations. Potential applications include medical supply delivery to remote healthcare facilities, disaster relief operations, military logistics and civilian emergency response.
The project also positions India in the emerging autonomous aerial logistics market, a technology sector with growing commercial and strategic importance globally.
Why TDB is funding this project
TDB is a government agency that identifies and supports high-risk, high-reward technology development projects that require sustained investment but may not attract private funding at early stages. This project falls under the Deep Technology sector with Intelligent Systems and Robotics as the specialisation. The funding reflects the government’s priority to develop indigenous autonomous systems combining aerospace engineering, propulsion, navigation, communications and intelligent control.
By providing debt financing rather than grants, TDB expects the project to progress towards a commercially viable product that can eventually generate returns.
What happens next
The funding will support technology development, engineering, integration, testing and validation of YETI to bring it to TRL-9 maturity. Progress is subject to meeting technical, safety and regulatory requirements.