Rama Krishna Mendu and Chirag Jain EndureAir have emerged as notable names in India’s drone and defence manufacturing space. The co-founders of EndureAir Systems are building unmanned aerial vehicles designed to operate in some of the toughest terrains in the country. From high-altitude zones to coastal environments, their drones are built for real use, not controlled settings.

Founded in 2018, EndureAir Systems focuses on designing and manufacturing Made in India drones that can support defence forces, disaster response teams, and commercial operators. The company is based in Noida and works closely with government agencies and private clients.

The startup is led by Rama Krishna Mendu, 26, co-founder and CEO, and Chirag Jain, 29, co-founder and CTO. Both trained as aerospace engineers and met while working on research projects at IIT Kanpur.

From campus lab to startup

EndureAir Systems began at IIT Kanpur, where Mendu and Jain worked under a professor in the aerospace engineering department. Their early work focused on unmanned aerial systems and flight performance. During this time, they saw a gap in the Indian market.

Most drones used in India were imported and struggled in local conditions. High wind, low oxygen levels, heat, dust, and limited connectivity reduced performance. The founders wanted to design drones that could handle Indian terrain without complex setup or heavy dependence on foreign systems.

Rama Krishna Mendu holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from IIT Kanpur. His work focuses on aerodynamics and structural design. Chirag Jain studied mechanical engineering at IIT Patna and completed his master’s in aerospace engineering at IIT Kanpur. He leads system integration, flight control, and software.

What EndureAir drones are built for

EndureAir Systems designs drones for multiple use cases. These include surveillance, logistics delivery, disaster response, crowd monitoring, precision agriculture, and video inspection.

The company tests its drones in demanding locations. These include Khardung La in Ladakh, Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, and coastal zones in Mumbai. Testing in such areas helps the team study flight stability, battery performance, payload limits, and communication reliability.

According to Chirag Jain, the focus is ease of operation. The drones are built so that users can deploy them with minimal training and fewer manual adjustments.

Use in defence and disaster response

EndureAir Systems has worked on several national projects. Its drones have supported the ‘Medicine from the Sky’ initiative, which focuses on delivering medical supplies to remote areas.

The company’s systems have also assisted the National Disaster Response Force during relief operations in Chamoli and the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue. In these cases, drones helped teams assess terrain, plan movement, and monitor conditions in unsafe zones.

These deployments helped EndureAir gain trust among defence and emergency agencies.

Orders, revenue, and clients

Most of EndureAir’s current orders come from the Indian Army. The company also works with other government bodies and private clients. Around 25 percent of its business comes from private sector contracts.

As of early 2024, EndureAir Systems had an order book of about ₹20 crore. The company aims to increase this to nearly ₹50 crore within six months by expanding supplies to the Indian Air Force and Navy.

In FY23, EndureAir reported revenue of ₹2.26 crore, up from ₹32 lakh in FY21. The company recorded a loss of ₹3.07 crore in FY23, compared to a loss of ₹7 lakh in FY21. The increase in losses reflects higher spending on research, testing, and team expansion.

Patents, team growth, and funding

EndureAir Systems holds more than eight patents linked to drone design and aerial systems. These patents cover areas such as flight stability, payload handling, and system integration.

The company’s team has grown from 60 employees to about 120 within a year. The expansion supports manufacturing, testing, and software development.

EndureAir raised ₹33 crore from investors that include members of the Dani family of Asian Paints and co-founders of Addverb Technologies. The funds are being used to scale production and prepare for international markets.

Expansion plans outside India

Rama Krishna Mendu and Chirag Jain plan to expand EndureAir Systems beyond India. Target regions include the Middle East, Europe, and North America. These markets have demand for drones used in defence, infrastructure inspection, and logistics.

The founders say international expansion will focus on select partnerships and compliance with local regulations. Products may be adapted to suit local terrain and mission needs.

Why EndureAir Systems matters

The EndureAir Systems story reflects a shift in India’s drone sector. There is growing focus on local design, testing, and manufacturing rather than imports.

By building drones that perform in real conditions, EndureAir has carved a space in defence and disaster response. Its work shows how engineering-led startups can support national needs while building a commercial business.

As drones become central to security, logistics, and infrastructure, the work of Rama Krishna Mendu and Chirag Jain places EndureAir Systems among the startups shaping India’s UAV landscape.

FAQs

Q1. Who are Rama Krishna Mendu and Chirag Jain?
Rama Krishna Mendu and Chirag Jain are aerospace engineers and the co-founders of EndureAir Systems, an Indian drone manufacturing startup.

Q2. What is EndureAir Systems?
EndureAir Systems is a Noida-based company that designs and manufactures Made in India drones for defence, disaster response, and commercial use.

Q3. What is EndureAir Systems’ revenue?
EndureAir Systems reported revenue of ₹2.26 crore in FY23.

Q4. Where are EndureAir drones used?
EndureAir drones are used by the Indian Army, disaster response teams, and private clients, and have been tested in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and coastal regions.