Boosting Indigenous e-Plane Technology: Ubifly Technologies Receives ₹285 Crore Support from Technology Development Board
Chennai-based Ubifly Technologies has been granted financial assistance of ₹285 crore to develop indigenous advanced air transport solutions.
The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Union Department of Science and Technology has approved financial assistance of ₹285 crore for Chennai-based Ubifly Technologies Private Limited. This support will be provided from the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) fund, aiming to develop indigenous e-plane advanced air transport solutions. This move is expected to strengthen the private sector-led competitive global deep-tech ecosystem in India.
Through this approved project, totaling ₹570 crore, the technology will be advanced from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL 9, marking a significant step toward the commercial use of an indigenous advanced air mobility platform. The financial assistance will be provided in the form of optionally convertible debentures, which can be converted into equity shares of the company after a specified period.
Ubifly Technologies is developing the 'e200x', an advanced air mobility aircraft with three seats, designed for one pilot and two passengers. The aircraft is completely zero-carbon emitting. It has a target flight range of 110 kilometers and a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The aircraft incorporates several indigenous technologies, including vertical rotors, forward propellers, flight control algorithms, power-distribution controllers, and battery-pack modules with integrated cooling systems.
The company has independently designed the main fuselage, wings, and rear structure of the aircraft. A key feature of the aircraft is its landing gear, which is designed for both conventional and vertical landings. The structure is capable of operating from confined spaces and can perform multiple flights on a single battery charge. This project, falling under deep technology, also encompasses the space technology sub-sector.
Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary of the Technology Development Board, stated that the Research, Development, and Innovation fund is a crucial step toward increasing private sector participation in the development of high technologies and bringing innovations into practical use. He added that this support reflects the Government of India's commitment to strengthening indigenous capabilities in advanced technologies and fundamental innovations.
A representative of Ubifly Technologies praised the support, stating that this assistance will accelerate the continuous development and validation of e-plane technology. They noted that advancing the e200x from TRL-6 to TRL-9 requires sustained investment in engineering, testing, and technological maturity.
