A significant step toward advancing India’s drone ecosystem is taking shape as Odisha prepares to turn an active airport into a hub for next-generation UAV innovation.
Odisha has announced plans to establish India’s National UAV Test and Innovation Corridor at Rangeilunda Airport in partnership with Bhubaneswar-based deep tech startup BonV Aero. This marks the first time in the country that an operational civilian airport will be repurposed as a live testing and certification site for drones.
The announcement was made at Wings India 2026. The corridor will allow unmanned aerial vehicles to be tested in real airspace conditions. It will support advanced capabilities such as swarm testing, AI-driven navigation, and autonomous airspace management.
Usha Padhee said the initiative is aimed at building robust infrastructure that can contribute to national policy development for low-altitude airspace. The project is expected to play a key role in shaping how drones operate safely and efficiently in shared airspace.
Satyabrata Satapathy of BonV Aero said the corridor will help validate autonomy stacks and ensure mission reliability. He added that the facility will provide Indian startups with a strong platform to scale their technologies for global markets.
The corridor will also function as a regulatory sandbox, enabling beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. These capabilities are expected to support multiple use cases, including defence applications, delivery services, and disaster response operations.
By combining live airspace access with testing, certification, and regulatory support, the proposed corridor is expected to strengthen India’s position in advanced drone development and autonomous aviation systems.
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