Hyderabad-based startup Apollian Dynamics has built India’s fastest interceptor drone, Ahuti Mk-II. It has a speed of 498 kilometers per hour, which has also been recorded in the ‘India Book of Records’.
Apollian Dynamics founder Jayant Khatri posted on X, stating that this drone has broken the old record of 325 kilometers per hour set by its own prototype model. Generally, drones are used for carrying goods or taking photos, but the Ahuti Mk-II has been designed to instantly shoot down incoming enemy drones or missiles in the air.
Ahuti Mk-II will compete with Iran’s Shahed-136
Ahuti Mk-II will compete with the Shahed-136 drone used by Iran during the US-Iran conflict, which costs only about ₹3.2 million and caused heavy damage to the US during the war.
According to a New York Times report, the US spent about ₹1.04 lakh crore in just the first six days of the war, which increased to about ₹2.31 lakh crore to ₹3.24 lakh crore by the beginning of April. A major part of this was spent on interceptor missiles.
Planning to deal with advanced drones
The company says that given the changing methods of warfare, it has become essential to increase the speed of drones. In recent global conflicts, the use of cheap and dangerous drones like the Shahed-136 has increased rapidly. The main task of ‘Ahuti Mk II’ is to approach such enemy drones and destroy them instantly in mid-air.
Design changed 10 times; speed achieved with 400 ampere current
To give the Ahuti Mk-II drone a speed of 498 kmph, major changes were made to its engine, motor, and body, for which 10 different models were created. This drone draws 400 amperes of power at once, which gives it tremendous speed.
Previously, the company had provided the army with drones capable of 300 kmph, which have been made even faster after 8 months of hard work. However, the price of the drone has not been disclosed.
