India’s path to defence self-reliance calls for innovation that bridges the gap between technological potential and on-ground tactical needs. Protthapan Technologies Pvt Ltd, an indigenous defence-tech startup, exemplifies this shift. At the forefront is the GATI Drone, a tactical UAV built to serve frontline units with speed, precision, and reliability. I would love to chronicle the technology behind GATI, its envisioned applications, and how my early exposure to defence discipline and my foundation in Electronics & Communication Engineering laid the groundwork for this mission-driven enterprise.
The desire to serve the nation often stems from values instilled early in life. My exposure to defence discipline during my formative years played a key role in shaping my mindset introducing me to principles of teamwork, strategic thinking, and mission-first leadership. These values, combined with a technical education in Electronics and Communication Engineering, led me to explore how cutting-edge technology could directly empower India’s defence forces.
Today, as the founder of Protthapan Technologies Pvt Ltd, I lead a team focused on building indigenous, mission-ready systems. Among our flagship developments is the GATI Drone – designed, engineered, and field-tested for India’s defence and disaster-response needs.
The Birth of the Enterprise
Founded with a singular vision of innovation for the nation, Protthapan Technologies bridges the tactical gap between soldiers on the ground and the unmanned tools they need. Our solutions are not theoretical they are built for direct application in challenging, real-world scenarios.
Our capabilities include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), robotics systems, and AI-powered command-and-control software. Our R&D is guided by the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Developed by Protthapan Technologies, the GATI drone is tailored for real-world operations, offering capabilities such as precision payload drops, border surveillance, and AI-assisted tracking. It has already passed key field trials, including army evaluations and Pokhran tests
GATI Drone: Tactical Mobility Redefined
What is GATI?
GATI (meaning “Speed” in Hindi) is a tactical UAV developed for fast deployment in military and disaster-relief operations. It is capable of supporting surveillance, reconnaissance, and critical payload missions.
Key Features:
- Payload Capacity: Configurable for lightweight mission-critical items
- Flight Endurance: Up to 30 minutes of air time
- Range: up to 15+ km (to and fro)
- Custom Control System: Designed for field usability with real-time feedback
- AI-Based Target Tracking (in development): Intelligent object following and focus-lock functionality
Use Cases:
- Border surveillance across high-altitude and difficult terrain
- Real-time battlefield observation for artillery coordination
- Last-mile delivery of equipment, supplies, or sensors
- ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) in disaster-affected zones
Engineering Inspiration and Tactical Thinking
While my engineering background gave me the technical tools to build unmanned systems, the seed of purpose was sown earlier through structured exposure to defence environments during my NCC tenure that taught me the value of preparedness, adaptability, and rapid response.
This unique blend of practical leadership and technical training helped shape Protthapan’s philosophy: not just to build drones, but to build for real missions and real users on the ground.
Field Trials: From Design to Deployment
Army Trials: GATI underwent live army demonstrations where it was tested for waypoint-based navigation, live video transmission, dropping war head and operational handling in rough terrain. Feedback from troops validated the drone’s deployment speed, user-friendly interface, and operational efficiency.
Pokhran Trials: Precision Payload Drop: A crucial phase of testing took place at Pokhran, where GATI successfully executed grenade drop missions using its custom-designed release system.
GATI’s success reflects the synergy between defence-minded discipline and engineering innovation. With AI features, swarm technology, and defence network integration in the pipeline, it is poised to push the boundaries of indigenous tactical UAVs
Key takeaways from Pokhran:
Accuracy: Payloads landed within the intended targets
Hover Stability: Maintained position despite desert wind turbulence
Mechanism Reliability: Clean, vibration-free release of payload
Operational Stealth: Low acoustic signature during descent
These results validated GATI’s capability for precision strike support and logistics delivery in active zones.
Challenges & Vision Ahead
Building military-grade UAVs in India comes with its own set of hurdles from component sourcing and flight clearances to environmental durability and encryption compliance. However, each challenge has led us to smarter, leaner designs that are practical, cost-effective, and more field-resilient.
Our upcoming roadmap includes:
- AI-based autonomous operations
- Swarm capabilities
- Real-time terrain mapping
- Integration with defence networks
Takeaways
GATI represents more than just technology, it embodies a purpose-driven approach to solving real tactical problems through indigenous innovation. What started as a spark of inspiration has evolved into a product that’s ready for deployment in defence, disaster, and national security domains.
As India continues its journey toward defence self-reliance, Protthapan Technologies is proud to contribute by building not just tools, but trusted, reliable capabilities.
The writer is the Founder and CEO of Protthapan Technologies Pvt Ltd, a company focused on indigenous UAVs, UGVs, and AI-integrated defence systems. With a degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering and a deep interest in defence technology, he leads a team committed to designing tactical solutions tailored to India’s security. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
