Andhra govt signs MoU with Airbound to build large-scale drone delivery network

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Bengaluru-based aerospace company, Airbound, to launch a large-scale drone delivery network across the Amaravati Capital Region, targeting 10,000 drone flights a day to expedite the movement of healthcare supplies, commercial goods and other critical consignments.

The agreement, signed between Andhra Pradesh Drone Corporation (APDC) and Airbound, seeks to develop one of the world’s largest commercial drone delivery ecosystems while strengthening future-ready logistics infrastructure and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a global drone hub, according to a company statement.

“The MoU envisages the development of a large-scale drone delivery network across the Amaravati Capital Region, with both partners targeting 10,000 drone flights a day to strengthen logistics and accelerate the movement of healthcare supplies, commercial goods and other critical consignments,” said Airbound Founder and Chief Executive Officer Naman Pushp in a press release.

The MoU was signed by APDC Managing Director and Chairman Geetanjali Sharma and Pushp in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.  Under the proposed Amaravati Capital Region Drone Delivery Network (ACR DDN), Airbound will collaborate with stakeholders across the healthcare, logistics and e-commerce sectors to connect Amaravati, Vijayawada and Guntur region through drone operations.

The initiative is expected to commence with operations in Guntur before being scaled up across the state over the coming year, he said.

Pushp said the network will be powered by the company’s blended-wing-body tailsitter aircraft built using lightweight carbon fibre, adding that, weighing 1.5 kg, the aircraft offers a payload-to-weight ratio of 1.5:1 compared with the industry standard of 4:1, enabling deliveries at costs of up to 20 times lower than conventional logistics methods.