IIT-Kanpur to Unveil Sabal‑50 UAV with 50 kg Payload for High-Altitude Defence and Logistics

IIT Kanpur’s Department of Aerospace Engineering is set to unveil one of India’s most formidable UAVs to date: the Sabal‑50, a high-payload unmanned aerial vehicle designed for both combat and emergency logistics. Positioned as a significant leap forward from its predecessor, the Sabal‑20, this drone represents a bold fusion of academic research, industrial incubation, and defence-oriented innovation.

A Heavy‑Lifter for the Frontlines

Weighing approximately 150 kg and capable of carrying a 50 kg payload, the Sabal‑50 is the heaviest and most powerful UAV Amazon developed at IIT Kanpur, where earlier models topped out at 20 kg payloads . In comparison, its sibling, the Sabal‑20, introduced last year has already proven operational value, deployed for logistics duties by the Indian Army .

Built for Extreme Environments

Sabal‑50 isn’t just strong—it’s tough. Developed with endurance in mind, it has undergone rigorous testing at altitudes reaching 17,000 ft, including the notoriously harsh conditions of the Siachen Glacier . Its construction incorporates technologies to resist turbulence, low temperatures, and even snowstorms, ensuring mission readiness in India’s most challenging theatres.

Tactical Versatility: Combat, Logistics, ISR

This drone is built with dual-use functionality. On the logistics side, it can transport essential cargo—ammunition, rations, medical supplies—directly to forward bases or isolated personnel . On the combat front, it’s designed to be weaponized for coordinated aerial strikes, with the capability to loiter for 3–4 hours while transmitting live high-resolution imagery .

Further enhancing situational awareness, the Sabal‑50 is equipped with AI-enabled autonomy and advanced cameras that deliver clear visuals even through dust or snow, critical for target identification and ISR tasks .

Tandem-Rotor and Variable-Pitch Innovations

Developed in collaboration with the IIT Kanpur-incubated firm EndureAir, Sabal‑50 builds upon cutting-edge UAV engineering . Its tandem-rotor design, low-RPM operation, and variable-pitch rotors combine the heavy-lift efficiency of helicopter tech with the stealth-like silence of drones—ideal for covert supply and strike missions .

A Landmark in Indo-Defence Innovation

The drone’s design and development have been steered by aerospace faculty like Prof. Abhishek and incubator leaders Dr. Abhishek, Rama Krishna, and Chirag Jain, underscoring the project's blend of academic rigor and industrial deployment . Notably, about 90% of its materials are indigenous, reinforcing the drive toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence .

On the Path to Service

Final trials for Sabal‑50 are reportedly underway, and defence analysts believe induction into the Indian Army’s UAV fleet could occur later this year . Already, the Sabal‑20 variant is actively deployed in strategic zones like Arunachal Pradesh and near Siachen 

What Sabal‑50 Brings to the Battlefield

• Heavy-Payload Delivery: Capable of carrying 50 kg—2.5× the load of its predecessor—Sabal‑50 can supply forward troops quickly in terrain that’s otherwise unreachable.

• Combat-Ready Versatility: Its loitering capacity, AI-driven targeting, and combat modules mark it as a multipurpose asset for future conflicts.

• High-Altitude Resilience: Designed to withstand glacial winds and thin air, it's a perfect fit for doctrine operations in regions like Ladakh.

• Indigenous Edge: With substantial indigenization in design and components, Sabal‑50 is a beacon of India’s self-reliant defence ambitions.

Sabal‑50 is more than an academic project—it’s a mission-ready exemplar of how Indian technological institutions, startups, and the defence ecosystem can collaborate to achieve world-class UAV capabilities. If current tests succeed, this drone could become a cornerstone of India's future battle network, supporting troops with supplies, intelligence, and firepower in near-real time—even in the toughest terrain.

With the Sabal‑50 on the horizon, IIT Kanpur has once again shown that India can lead in aerospace innovation, delivering systems that are not only cutting-edge—but fiercely suited to the needs of a modern military.