Vaimanika Aerospace: Drone Innovation from Bihar to Bharat

What started as a passion for robotics and drone education became a national-scale innovation engine. Manish Dixit, after over a decade in robotics and UAV training, founded Vaimanika Aerospace in Bihar in July 2022 to address India’s agricultural inefficiencies through tech. The name “Vaimanika,” drawn from ancient Sanskrit texts on aeronautics, reflects the startup’s mission—fusing India’s heritage with future-ready drone technology.

Flying Toward a Mission

Vaimanika Aerospace’s core mission is to revolutionise sectors like agriculture, surveillance, and logistics using autonomous drones. The inspiration came from the on-ground realities of Indian farming, manual pesticide spraying, high water usage, and unsafe field practices. The team, led by Manish, developed drones capable of spraying one acre in under seven minutes, cutting water use by 90%, and reducing farmer exposure to chemicals—all at Rs 450 per acre.

The Team Behind the Flight

The company is led by a dynamic, multidisciplinary team. Manish Dixit heads operations and innovation, supported by directors Jeel Doshi (investor relations), Naveen Kumar (sales & marketing), and advisors like IIT Patna professor Dr. Utpal Doshi. With backing from VCs, startup veterans, and young engineers from IITs, the team blends technical expertise with strategic vision.

Institutional Backing and Government Support

Vaimanika is incubated by IIT Patna and supported by the Bihar government. It received 2 acres for manufacturing, benefits under CM Udyami Yojana, and recognition through Startup India tax exemptions. The startup has also partnered with national programs like the Bihar Innovation Challenge.

Solving Farming’s Toughest Problems

The startup’s drones are equipped with radar, RTK systems, smart batteries, and AI-enabled FPV controls, enabling them to operate with high precision across diverse terrains. In agriculture, this has proven critical: farmers now save up to 90 litres of water per acre and complete spraying tasks faster and safer than ever before. Vaimanika’s drones are also deployed for surveillance and logistics, offering scalable, sector-agnostic solutions.

Market Opportunity and Reach

With the Indian agri-drone market projected to exceed $500M by 2026, and massive potential in surveillance and DaaS (Drone-as-a-Service) models, Vaimanika is positioned for scale. Its customer base includes farmers, FPOs, agri-corporates, and government departments. Distribution spans 10+ states via partners and franchisees, while MoUs with IFFCO and UPL mark serious B2B traction.

Earning Altitude: Revenue and Recognition

In FY23–24, the company posted Rs 8.5 crore in revenue with Rs 1.1 crore PAT. FY24–25 figures soared to Rs 24.5 crore revenue and Rs 5 crore PAT. Key deals include a Rs 32 crore contract from UPL and an MoU with IFFCO covering 15 lakh acres. The VA-10 drone received its Type Certificate, and the firm raised over Rs 7 crore in funding.

Recognitions include the Bihar Startup Award 2024, features in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, and strategic tie-ups with QTrino Labs and Aries Ltd for a 1000-drone deployment.

Challenges in the Sky

The path to innovation hasn’t been without turbulence. Vaimanika faced hurdles like regulatory delays, supply chain bottlenecks for drone parts, and initial resistance from farmers wary of adopting new tech. Yet, the company steadily gained ground through grassroots demand-reaining pilots. Summing up the journey, Manish Dixit reflects, “Real impact happens when innovation meets purpose. Focus on solving real problems. Stay resilient.”

Model, Monetisation, and Future Plans

Vaimanika’s business model is multi-pronged, generating revenue through drone sales, franchisee partnerships, rentals and Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings priced at Rs 450 per acre, as well as training programs, GIS services, and SaaS tools. Their pricing strategy is designed to balance affordability with technological sophistication, with drone units ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh. 

Looking forward, the company is preparing to enter the defence and medical drone markets, explore exports to the Gulf and the U.S., and introduce a battery management system. Ambitious plans also include launching air taxis and advanced surveillance UAVs.