Apollyon Dynamics’ Ahuti Mk II Sets 498 Kmph Drone Speed Record

Hyderabad-based defence tech startup Apollyon Dynamics has entered the India Book of Records after its electric interceptor drone, Ahuti Mk II, achieved a certified top speed of 498 km/h. The company says this is also the fastest publicly recorded speed for a multirotor UAV in South Asia.

From Prototype to Record-Setting UAV

Founded in 2025 by Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhary, Apollyon Dynamics was incubated at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus. The startup develops autonomous aerial systems for the Indian armed forces and has already fielded platforms with the Army.

Ahuti Mk II was engineered by Aman Virani, Manas Vichare and Ishaan Suri. It evolved from the original Ahuti prototype, which reached approximately 300 km/h in 2025. According to the founders, reaching 498 km/h in less than a year involved extensive testing, iteration and engineering refinement.

“Reaching a certified top speed of 498 km/h is an important validation of our engineering approach and the work undertaken by the team,” Khatri said.

Choudhary described the progression from the earlier prototype to the new platform as the result of sustained testing and development.

From a BITS Grant to Defence Technology

Khatri’s entrepreneurial journey began with a Rs 2 lakh SOLVE grant at BITS Pilani. The funding helped him purchase his first 3D printer and motors for a prosthetics project, eventually contributing to the foundation for Apollyon Dynamics’ UAV development.

Ahuti Mk II is designed for high-speed interception of hostile drones and loitering munitions. The company’s longer-term roadmap includes developing a Power Cruise Missile platform by 2030, with a focus on speed, autonomy, scalability and cost efficiency.

Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, said the development demonstrates how academic and entrepreneurial ecosystems can translate engineering ideas into defence applications.

For BITS Pilani, the achievement also highlights the role of its Technology Business Incubator in supporting deep-tech ventures as they progress from early experimentation to recognised technological milestones.