Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup AquaAirX has introduced what it describes as India’s first amphibious drone capable of functioning both in the air and underwater. This technological advancement could significantly transform maritime surveillance, defence missions, and offshore industrial inspections across the country.
Moreover, the platform represents an important milestone not only for the company but also for India’s broader ambition to develop indigenous advanced robotics and autonomous technologies.
At the center of AquaAirX’s innovation lies an amphibious drone platform that transitions smoothly between aerial flight and underwater operations. Unlike traditional drones that operate exclusively in the air or underwater robots that remain submerged, the system combines both capabilities within a single platform.
Consequently, the drone can take off like a conventional aerial vehicle, dive into water during a mission, execute underwater tasks, and then resurface to continue flying. The company’s flagship platform, AVATAAR, supports complex maritime missions that require intelligence and operational capability across both aerial and underwater environments.
Furthermore, this hybrid capability significantly improves operational efficiency in sectors where separate systems usually handle aerial monitoring and underwater exploration.
As a result, the technology offers potential applications across several critical sectors. These include maritime and coastal surveillance, defence and naval reconnaissance, offshore infrastructure inspections, environmental monitoring and ocean research, as well as disaster response and search-and-rescue operations.
By integrating aerial and underwater capabilities into a single autonomous vehicle, the platform reduces deployment costs while simplifying operational complexity. At the same time, it delivers real-time situational awareness in challenging and dynamic maritime environments.
The founders launched AquaAirX in 2024. Aeronautical engineers Gouthami T. S. and Jitendra Kumar Purnmal Saini established the startup after sharing a common interest in robotics, aerospace engineering, and autonomous technologies.
During their engineering journey, the founders began studying the limitations of existing maritime technologies. They discovered a significant operational gap because aerial drones could observe oceans from above, while underwater vehicles could explore beneath the surface, yet no single system could efficiently perform both functions.
Therefore, the founders decided to design prototypes that could transition smoothly between air and water environments. Over time, the concept evolved from a research idea into a full-scale deep-tech startup focused on developing AI-powered amphibious drones and underwater robotics systems.
Through this initiative, the company aims to help industries, governments, and research institutions explore and monitor ocean ecosystems using intelligent autonomous technologies.
Despite its recent launch, AquaAirX has already achieved notable technological progress. The company’s amphibious drone platform has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, which indicates that the system has successfully demonstrated its capabilities in relevant operational environments and is approaching real-world deployment.
Meanwhile, the startup has also attracted strong investor interest. Recently, AquaAirX secured ₹12.5 crore in seed funding with the round led by Rainmatter, the investment initiative backed by Zerodha.
Additionally, investors including Prime Venture Partners, Wyser, and India Accelerator also participated in the funding round.
The company will use the newly raised capital to enhance drone autonomy, strengthen underwater communication systems, and expand its engineering and research teams.
Beyond product development, AquaAirX has also gained exposure through international startup ecosystems and innovation programs. The startup has collaborated with accelerator platforms such as NSRCEL and has participated in global initiatives including Israel Aerospace Industries’ NeuSPHERE program, which supports deep-tech ventures through mentorship and industry partnerships.
As global interest in maritime security and ocean exploration continues to grow, technologies capable of delivering intelligence across both air and water domains are becoming increasingly valuable.
For India, which has a vast coastline and expanding blue economy ambitions, such innovations could strengthen coastal defence, enhance port monitoring, and improve management of offshore energy infrastructure.
Looking ahead, AquaAirX plans to advance its amphibious drone platform through large-scale field trials and eventual commercial deployment.
The company also intends to collaborate with defence agencies, maritime authorities, and industrial partners in order to integrate its technology into real-world operational missions.
With continued research, strategic partnerships, and sustained funding, AquaAirX aims to position itself as a global leader in the emerging field of amphibious robotics and ocean intelligence systems.
For a startup founded recently, the launch of India’s first amphibious drone highlights both strong technological ambition and the rapid evolution of India’s deep-tech innovation ecosystem.
If AquaAirX successfully scales its technology platform, Indian-built autonomous systems could soon operate seamlessly across both skies and oceans, thereby opening new frontiers in maritime intelligence and robotics.
