Optiemus Unmanned Systems to Invest Rs 140 Crores in Drones for Indian Farmers
New Delhi [India], July 4: Optiemus Unmanned Systems (OUS), a subsidiary of Optiemus Infracom, will invest Rs 140 crores in a pioneering ‘Drone as a Service’ model aimed at boosting the agricultural sector. The announcement was made at the 5th Drone International Expo and is set to revolutionize traditional farming practices across India by the end of 2025.
OUS unveiled innovative drones designed for agricultural and mapping applications. These drones, featuring a significant percentage of locally manufactured components, are expected to benefit Indian farmers by improving farmland productivity and yield while reducing input costs. OUS plans to roll out a fleet of 5,000 drones by the end of 2025, managed by a trained workforce of 6,000 pilots. The company will provide extensive training for drone pilots to ensure efficient and effective use of this technology in the agricultural sector.
The investment aligns with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The company aims to reach 65% indigenization of drone components initially, with a goal to increase this figure to 75% by the end of the financial year. The ‘Drone as a Service’ strategy will offer precision farming and pesticide spraying solutions, making advanced agricultural technology accessible even in remote areas. The company projects service revenues of Rs 600 to Rs 900 crores by the end of 2025.
Key offerings include the Agri Shakti 10L, an agricultural drone capable of carrying a 10-liter spray tank and covering 1 acre in approximately 7 minutes. Priced at Rs 2.25 lakhs, it promises significant cost savings and productivity improvements for farmers. Another highlight is the Vajra QC P20, a precision agriculture and mapping drone weighing just 2 kg with a 30-minute flight duration. It can survey areas of 0.5 to 1 sq. km, making it ideal for optimizing crop health and yield as well as assessing crop damage for insurance purposes.
OUS will also provide drones in partnerships with national and state-run cooperative societies, government organizations, and agricultural universities. Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairman of Optiemus Infracom, emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative. Gupta said, ‘We have decided to march on a unique business model for our drone business based on our ground-level research, which called out issues like lack of know-how on operating drones and scarcity of spare parts. The potential for this business is huge given the benefits it serves; we are set to leverage our expertise in drone technology to offer a cost-effective and efficient solution for agricultural and defense needs.’
‘It is our effort to revolutionize traditional farming practices and enhance crop yields while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. We have already got a portfolio of military-grade drones and have started selling our drones to India’s defense and paramilitary forces,’ added Gupta.
