Jayant Khatri and Sourya Choudhury of Apollyon Dynamics said at the R Defence Forces First Conclave 2026 that unmanned warfare is the future.
The presentation highlights a shift toward autonomous platforms in military strategy, signaling a move toward integrating student-led innovation into national security infrastructure.
Khatri and Choudhury focused on the "un-manned edge," explaining the role of drones, unmanned vehicles, and autonomous platforms in transforming how conflicts are fought. The founders said they aimed to highlight Indian innovation in unmanned systems and identify the specific needs the armed services must adopt at scale to maintain a competitive advantage.
Apollyon Dynamics was founded by two [1] third-year students. The company has transitioned from a university environment to developing systems such as kamikaze and surveillance drones used on army frontlines.
The discussion at the 2026 [2] conclave emphasized that the integration of these technologies is no longer optional but necessary for modern defense. By focusing on the scalability of autonomous systems, the founders said that the speed of innovation in the private sector can provide critical capabilities to the military.
Their approach emphasizes the use of agile development to create platforms that can be deployed rapidly in high-risk environments. This strategy reduces the risk to human personnel while increasing the precision of intelligence and strike capabilities.
“Drones, unmanned vehicles, and autonomous platforms will reshape warfare”
The emergence of firms like Apollyon Dynamics indicates a trend where academic innovation is directly feeding into defense procurement. As autonomous platforms move from experimental prototypes to frontline tools, the barrier between student research and military application is narrowing, potentially accelerating the deployment of AI-driven combat systems.
