Indore’s PATH (Prakash Asphaltings & Toll Highways (India) Ltd) Takes Flight-Acquires VU Dynamics, Ignites Drone Manufacturing Boom

In a significant move for India’s defence and aerospace sectors, Indore-based infrastructure giant Prakash Asphaltings & Toll Highways (India) Ltd (PATH) has acquired VU Dynamics, a cutting-edge drone manufacturer incubated at IIT Kanpur. The acquisition marks a strategic partnership aimed at scaling up indigenous drone manufacturing and accelerating the development of advanced aerial platforms for defence and civilian applications.

 

Founded in 2022 by Professor Subrahmanyam Saderla and Dr. Sravanti Saderla at IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), VU Dynamics specializes in deep-tech aerospace engineering. The company has developed proprietary fixed-wing, catapult-launched drones for defence use, leveraging 3D printing technology for rapid prototyping and production. Currently, VU Dynamics offers two kamikaze drone models-one with a 100 km range and 6 kg payload, and another with a 40 km range and 2 kg payload. Larger, more capable drones and surveillance platforms are also in development.

 

With PATH’s acquisition, VU Dynamics will transition into a subsidiary, gaining access to PATH’s robust infrastructure and executional expertise. A new drone manufacturing facility is set to be established near Indore, with production targets of 200 drones per day within a month, and further expansion planned. The partnership is poised to deliver high-performance, scalable unmanned aerial systems, supporting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision for self-reliance in defence technology.

 

The financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, but the collaboration has already attracted significant investment and a substantial defence sector order. The alliance underscores the transformative potential of academia-industry partnerships in advancing India’s innovation-driven aerospace future.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line