Hyderabad: In a development that could improve efficiency in the logistics sector, Hyderabad-based aerospace player BluJ Aero showcased the prototype of its unmanned logistics aircraft Reach.
Reach has a payload capacity of 100 kg and a range of 300 km on a single charge using hydrogen-electric propulsion. It will be fully autonomous with real-time monitoring and control.
Utham Kumar, co-founder and CTO of BluJ Aero, said it would take about two years for the company to refine the product and provide mid-mile connectivity. It could be used in transporting emergency supplies to areas that are difficult to service.
Reach’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and range, going by the company’s claims, make it ideal for connecting underserved regions, facilitating same-day delivery. BluJ Aero’s technology can enable rapid transit between Bengaluru-Mysuru, Chennai-Puducherry, Mumbai-Pune, and Hyderabad-Warangal in about 30 minutes, without the need for traditional airport infrastructure.
“Our goal is to enable fast, green, and commercially viable air transport for civil and defence sectors,” he said.
BluJ Aero is also developing a defence variant of the aircraft for high-altitude, multi-utility use cases, including relief and supply missions in remote and challenging environments, Utham Kumar said.
The company has so far raised about Rs 18 crore from investors and will need about Rs 200 crore-Rs 250 crore as it moves to the production stage.
The company said its aircraft is the first hydrogen-electric VTOLs to be designed and manufactured in India. With an all-up weight (AUW) of around 500 kg, it is also the largest privately developed VTOL in India.
