**Executive Summary**
On 13 April 2026, the Technology Development Board (TDB) signed an agreement with Casey Aviation Private Limited to support the "Boost Electric Jump Take-Off (BE-JTO)" project. Funded under the India–UK Collaborative R&D Programme for Industrial Sustainability, this initiative aims to develop advanced hybrid propulsion systems and establish a critical testing facility in North India. The project focuses on enhancing unmanned aviation capabilities and supporting regional air mobility through sustainable technological innovations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Project Overview and Funding**
* The TDB, under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), has sanctioned a conditional grant to Casey Aviation Private Limited for the BE-JTO project.
* The initiative is part of an international collaboration with UK-based ARC Aerosystems Ltd. focusing on industrial sustainability.
**Technological Development**
* The project centers on an advanced hybrid propulsion-based Jump Take-Off (JTO) system designed for unmanned and light aircraft platforms.
* The technology integrates propulsion systems to enable short or near-vertical take-off capabilities for gyrocopters and unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
* The solution aims to reduce take-off distances and improve operational flexibility in remote or inaccessible regions.
**Infrastructure and Ecosystem Support**
* A dedicated test bench facility will be established for validating rotorcraft propulsion systems, marking one of the first such facilities in North India.
* The infrastructure will serve as a hub for testing and optimizing next-generation aerial mobility technologies.
* Beyond internal use, the facility will offer testing services to startups and developers to facilitate the commercialization of hybrid propulsion solutions.
**Target Applications**
* The technology is intended for a variety of strategic uses, including regional connectivity, disaster response, and medical evacuation.
* It will also support unmanned logistics and surveillance operations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Casey Aviation Private Limited**
**Impact**
The company receives financial support and a platform to validate its technology in real-world conditions, accelerating the development of scalable propulsion solutions.
**Action Required**
The company must execute the development of the BE-JTO system and establish the promised test bench facility as per the agreement.
**Aerospace Startups and Developers**
**Impact**
They will gain access to a validated testing infrastructure in North India, which was previously unavailable, reducing barriers to commercializing their own technologies.
**Action Required**
Startups in the unmanned and advanced aerial mobility sectors may engage with the facility for testing services and propulsion validation.
**Technology Development Board (TDB) / DST**
**Impact**
The Board advances India’s strategic capabilities in unmanned aviation and fosters international R&D partnerships for sustainable aviation.
**Action Required**
The TDB must oversee the conditional grant and ensure the project aligns with the goals of the India–UK Collaborative R&D Programme.
Key Entities Referenced
India–UK Collaborative R&D Programme for Industrial Sustainability: A bilateral initiative providing conditional grants for collaborative research and development in industrial sustainability and advanced aviation technologies.
Technology Development Board (TDB): A statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology that provided the conditional grant and signed the agreement for project support.
Casey Aviation Private Limited: The primary Indian aerospace beneficiary responsible for developing the hybrid propulsion-based Jump Take-Off system and establishing a test bench facility.
ARC Aerosystems Ltd: The UK-based international partner collaborating on the research and development for advanced aerial mobility technologies.
Ministry of Science & Technology
"TDB-DST SUPPORTS CASEY AVIATION PVT.
LTD. UNDER INDIA–UK COLLABORATIVE R&D
PROGRAMME FOR ADVANCED HYBRID
PROPULSION IN UNMANNED AVIATION"
Posted On: 13 APR 2026 10:34AM by PIB Delhi
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government
of India, has signed an agreement with Casey Aviation Private Limited, Gurugram for the project titled
“Boost Electric Jump Take-Off (BE-JTO).” The Board has sanctioned a conditional grant under the India–
UK Collaborative R&D Programme for Industrial Sustainability, in partnership with UK-based ARC
Aerosystems Ltd.
The TDB-supported project focuses on the development of an advanced hybrid propulsion-based Jump
Take-Off (JTO) system, aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of unmanned and light aircraft
platforms. The project envisages the establishment of a dedicated test bench facility for validating
rotorcraft propulsion systems, which will serve as a critical infrastructure for testing and optimization of
next-generation aerial mobility technologies.
The proposed solution integrates hybrid propulsion technologies to enable short or near-vertical take-off
capabilities for platforms such as gyrocopters and unmanned aerial systems. By enabling reduced take-off
distances and improved operational flexibility, the technology is expected to support a wide range of
applications, including regional connectivity, disaster response, medical evacuation, unmanned logistics,
and surveillance operations, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions.
The project also aims to create one of the first such propulsion testing facilities in North India,
providing validated testing infrastructure for startups and developers working in unmanned and advanced
aerial mobility systems. In addition to supporting in-house development, the facility is expected to enable
broader ecosystem benefits by offering testing services and facilitating the commercialization of hybrid
propulsion solutions.Casey Aviation Private Limited, a newly established aerospace venture, is focused on designing and
developing small aircraft and specialized aviation solutions. The company brings together expertise from
industry, academia, and research institutions to address emerging needs in India’s aviation and unmanned
systems landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, stated that collaborative R&D
initiatives under international programmes play a crucial role in advancing cutting-edge technologies in
strategic sectors. He noted that innovations in hybrid propulsion and advanced take-off systems can
significantly enhance India’s capabilities in unmanned aviation and regional air mobility, while
contributing to sustainable and efficient aviation solutions.
Promoters of Casey Aviation Private Limited expressed appreciation for the support and stated that the
project will enable the company to validate its technology in real-world conditions and accelerate the
development of scalable propulsion solutions for emerging aviation applications.
*******
NKR/FT/NM
(Release ID: 2251405) Visitor Counter : 773
Read this release in: Gujarati , Urdu , Telugu , ही