TDB signs agreement with ideaForge for ₹151 crore RDI support to develop YETI heavy-lift autonomous aerial logistics vehicle

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology signed an agreement with ideaForge Technology Limited to provide ₹151 crore in debt financing support under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. The total project cost is ₹302 crore, aimed at developing 'YETI', a heavy-lift, long-range autonomous vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL-FW UAV). The project aims to advance the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-9. Designed to transport payloads of up to 200 kg across a targeted range of 200 km at altitudes up to 6,500 metres, YETI is engineered for challenging operating environments such as high-altitude regions, deserts, and marine conditions.