ideaForge Technology Limited has received a Letter of Intent for financial assistance of up to ₹151 crore under the Government of India’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme to accelerate the development of YETI, an autonomous heavy-lift aerial platform designed for operations in extreme terrains.
The long-term debt financing, offered at a nominal interest rate, marks one of the first disbursements under the government’s ₹1 lakh crore RDI programme, which seeks to promote private-sector innovation in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, space and advanced manufacturing.
Designed as a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, YETI is capable of carrying payloads of up to 200 kilograms over distances of up to 200 kilometres. Engineered to operate in high-altitude regions, deserts and marine environments, the platform can take off from semi-prepared launch sites and function in both day and night conditions.
The platform is expected to strengthen logistics support for India’s armed forces operating in difficult terrains, including the Himalayas, deserts and coastal regions. Beyond defence applications, YETI is also being developed for industrial logistics, infrastructure construction, offshore operations, emergency response and aerial delivery services in remote locations.
Commenting on the development, Ankit Mehta, CEO and Co-founder of ideaForge Technology Ltd., said, “YETI represents a generational leap in what India can design, build and operate autonomously. Our armed forces and logistics networks face the daily reality of reaching places where roads end and weather conditions pose significant challenges.”
“The government’s confidence in ideaForge through the RDI framework reaffirms that Indian deep-tech companies are ready to contribute to the country’s long-term capability-building efforts,” he added.
First unveiled at Aero India last year, YETI marks ideaForge’s expansion beyond surveillance drones into autonomous aerial logistics systems, supporting India’s vision of self-reliance in defence and advanced technology.
