India’s first 60km BVLOS drone mission with 20 kg payload and 75-minutes flight time successful

Mumbai: In a major feat, BonV Aero, a homegrown leader in transport class heavy lift Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has become the first Indian company to successfully conduct a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight over 60 kilometres while carrying a 20-kilogram payload. 

The achievement positions BonV Aero at the forefront of India's unmanned logistics revolution, with wide-ranging implications for defence, disaster relief, and remote-area connectivity.

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,” he said.

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.

Odisha-headquartered BonV Aero is an Indian aerospace company pioneering heavy-lift drone solutions for defence, disaster response, and commercial logistics. The company focuses on developing advanced propulsion, energy, and autonomous systems to enable reliable UAV operations in high-altitude, remote, and operationally challenging environments.