Bon V Aero, an Odisha-based firm, has introduced a completely autonomous logistics drone service called Air Orca. The drone service was launched in the presence of venture entrepreneur Tim Draper.

"Today's launch of Air Orca represents a significant step forward for India's logistics sector and for us as an Odisha-based company," said Satyabrata Sathapathy, CEO of Bon V Aero, on Saturday.

"Developing and manufacturing this drone in-house allowed us to tailor it to India's specific requirements. Tim Draper's sponsorship amplifies the effect of this launch, and we are grateful for his participation as we work to expand Air Orca's benefits to civilian and defense applications throughout India," Sathapathy said.

Tim Draper stated, "It is exciting to witness the introduction of Air Orca here in Odisha. Autonomous drones, such as the Air Orca, provide practical solutions for modern logistics by increasing reach, flexibility, and reliability across a wide range of use cases, from disaster relief to high-altitude operations for defense forces. With the recent hurricanes in the United States fresh in my mind, I believe BonV Aero's idea will be a useful disaster response tool in India and around the world."

Bon V Aero designs, develops, and manufactures the Air Orca entirely in India. Air Orca is designed with advanced autonomous capabilities to address a variety of logistical difficulties, particularly in areas where standard transportation techniques are impracticable. The drone is intended to act as a first responder in catastrophe scenarios, delivering relief supplies to affected areas and giving essential assistance during calamities.

"BonV Aero is the first Indian firm to set a world record for lifting a 30 kilogram payload to Umling La, Ladakh, the highest motorable road pass at 19,024 feet. This performance outperforms helicopters, which have more difficulties when transporting equivalent goods at such high altitudes," Sathapathy explained.