Delhivery, India’s largest fully integrated logistics services provider, has taken a major leap in drone-based logistics by successfully testing its autonomous VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) drone in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. The live showcase was conducted in the presence of Shri Shashank Mani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Deoria, and executed by Delhivery Robotics India Private Limited, the company’s dedicated drone manufacturing and R&D arm.
The highlight of the demonstration was a fully autonomous flight where a Delhivery drone carried essential medicines along a pre-programmed 12-kilometre route. What normally takes close to forty minutes by road due to challenging local infrastructure was completed in just about twelve minutes. The test underlined how aerial logistics can sharply reduce delivery times and bring reliable connectivity to remote locations.
The drone used in the demonstration is part of Delhivery’s prototype fleet built on proprietary technology. It is designed specifically to handle India’s varied terrains and unpredictable weather. With the ability to carry payloads of up to five kilograms and fly anywhere between sixty to ninety kilometres on a single charge, the aircraft combines vertical helicopter-style take-off with fixed-wing forward flight for maximum efficiency. Delhivery also revealed that a more advanced platform, capable of carrying up to twenty kilograms and featuring higher indigenization, is already in development.
Beyond speed and technology, the company emphasized how drone logistics can support India’s job landscape. As drone deployment grows, it is expected to create new high-skill roles—including drone pilots, maintenance specialists and ground operations staff—especially across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities that stand to benefit most from rapid aerial connectivity.
