Odisha’s BonV Aero honoured with SIDM Champion Award for pioneering indigenous aerospace innovation

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 31, 2025

In a proud moment for Odisha’s deep-tech ecosystem, BonV Aero, a cutting-edge aerospace and defence technology startup, has been conferred the prestigious SIDM Champion Award (Special Jury) under Category 1 – Technology/Product Innovation to Address Defence Capabilities Gap. The honour was presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-Founder & CEO of BonV Aero, who dedicated the award to the Nation and the Armed Forces during his interaction with the Minister.

Instituted by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the Champion Awards celebrate excellence in indigenous defence innovation and manufacturing. The recognition underscores BonV Aero’s breakthrough work in developing high-altitude, heavy-payload, and autonomous aerial systems — designed, engineered, and built entirely in India. Its indigenous propulsion technologies, rugged airframes, and self-flying systems are redefining unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by enabling rapid mobility, tactical operations, and mission autonomy in high-threat, complex environments.

As the only Odisha-based startup to receive this distinguished national honour, BonV Aero’s achievement reflects the growing strength of India’s homegrown defence innovation ecosystem. The company’s advanced aerial systems merge design precision with operational resilience, addressing both logistics and tactical needs of the Armed Forces.

“This recognition from SIDM and the Ministry of Defence is a proud moment not just for BonV Aero, but for Odisha’s entire innovation community. It reaffirms our belief that India’s defence strength lies in indigenous innovation. Our systems are built for the Armed Forces—to perform where it matters the most, from high-altitude frontiers to rapid-response tactical environments,” said Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-Founder & CEO, BonV Aero.

The Awards Jury, chaired by Dr. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of DRDO and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri, included distinguished figures such as Dr. Prahlada Ramarao, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd.), Vice Admiral S.K.N. Ghormade (Retd.), and Maj Gen P.K. Saini (Retd.).

Endorsed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the SIDM Champion Awards continue to honour innovation, self-reliance, and collaboration between Indian industry and the Armed Forces. The accolade firmly positions BonV Aero among India’s leading deep-tech OEMs, driving the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission through indigenous technology and redefining the future of autonomous, high-performance aerial systems.