Hyderabad Defence Startup Develops Record-Breaking Drone Interceptor at 498 kmph
The achievement has earned the start-up recognition in the India Book of Records for the maximum speed achieved by a multirotor UAV, according to an Apollyon Dynamics statement.
Hyderabad:A drone designed to chase other drones has set a record for speed, with Ahuti Mk II, an electric multirotor interceptor developed by Hyderabad-based defence start-up Apollyon Dynamics, reaching a certified 498 kmph. The achievement has earned the start-up recognition in the India Book of Records for the maximum speed achieved by a multirotor UAV, according to an Apollyon Dynamics statement.
Ahuti Mk II was developed specifically as a high-speed interceptor, rather than as a conventional drone used for surveillance, photography or carrying payloads. Its purpose is to close the distance quickly against hostile drones and loitering munitions, Apollyon co-founder Jayant Khatri told Deccan Chronicle.
The platform evolved from the original Ahuti, which reached approximately 300 kmph in 2025. Instead of simply modifying that aircraft, the team rebuilt it for the interceptor role. In less than a year, its certified top speed rose to 498 kmph, an increase of nearly 200 kmph, or about 66 per ent, according to the company. “Speed isn’t a spec sheet number for us. It’s the difference between a threat neutralised and a threat that got through. A speed of 498 km/h means we win that race,” co-founder Sourya Choudhary said.
The start-up said the design was driven partly by the growing use of relatively inexpensive drones and loitering munitions, including Shahed-class systems. That has raised a practical defence problem: how to respond to low-cost aerial threats without relying only on considerably more expensive systems. Apollyon’s approach is to combine speed, autonomy and cost efficiency. The company says it looks at the cost of delivering capability over distance alongside performance, rather than treating speed or technical capability as standalone measures.
The record-setting aircraft was developed by Aman Virani (known as “Shady”), Manas Vichare and Ishaan Suri. Virani, a high-speed drone pilot, was involved in flight testing and development, with the company saying that engineering and practical piloting experience were central to the programme.
Apollyon said it has already fielded unmanned systems with Indian Army units. The startup’s stated long-term roadmap includes developing a Power Cruise Missile platform by 2030. The company operates under the motto “Precision is Mercy”, reflecting its stated aim of using unmanned systems in high-risk first-contact situations and reducing personnel exposure.
The company also said no other multirotor aircraft in South Asia has matched or exceeded the 498-kmph speed based on currently available public data, though this comparison is the company’s assessment, rather than an independently established global record. The company is incubated at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus and was incorporated in 2025.
