BonV Aero Wins Prestigious SIDM Champion Award from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Bhubaneswar: BonV Aero, an emerging aerospace and defence technology startup from Odisha, has achieved a remarkable national milestone by receiving the SIDM Champion Award (Special Jury) under Category 1 – Technology/Product Innovation to Address Defence Capabilities Gap. The honour was presented by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to Mr Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-Founder & CEO, who dedicated the award to the Nation and the Armed Forces during his interaction with the Defence Minister.
Instituted by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), the Champion Awards celebrate excellence in indigenous defence manufacturing and innovation. The recognition highlights BonV Aero’s pioneering work in advancing high-altitude, heavy-payload, and autonomous aerial systems built entirely in India. The company’s indigenous propulsion systems, rugged airframes, and self-flying technologies have expanded the definition of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), enabling them to conduct tactical operations, achieve rapid mobility, and operate with mission autonomy across high-threat and complex environments.
As the only Odisha startup to receive this distinguished honour, BonV Aero’s success marks a proud moment for the state’s deep-tech ecosystem. The company’s innovations in aerospace and defence manufacturing combine design precision with operational reliability, creating solutions that serve both logistics and tactical requirements of the Armed Forces.
“This recognition from SIDM and the Ministry of Defence is a proud moment not just for BonV Aero, but for Odisha’s entire innovation community. It reaffirms our belief that India’s defence strength lies in indigenous innovation. Our systems are built for the Armed Forces—to perform where it matters the most, from high-altitude frontiers to rapid-response tactical environments,” said Mr Satyabrata Satapathy, Co-Founder & CEO, BonV Aero.
The Awards Jury, chaired by Dr Satheesh Reddy, Former Chairman of DRDO and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri , jury of distinguished figures includingDr Prahlada Ramarao (Padma Shri), Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd.), Vice Admiral S.K.N. Ghormade (Retd.), and Maj Gen P.K. Saini (Retd.), among others.
Endorsed by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the SIDM Champion Awards continue to recognise and celebrate innovation, self-reliance, and collaboration between Indian industry and the Armed Forces. This recognition firmly positions BonV Aero as one of India’s leading deep-tech OEMs, driving Aatmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous innovation, expanding India’s capabilities in aerospace and defence manufacturing, and defining the next generation of autonomous, high-performance aerial systems.
