‘Made for India skies’: Deepinder Goyal unveils India-built electric UAV under LAT Aerospace

Deepinder Goyal, co-founder of Zomato, has launched a groundbreaking electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under his new venture, LAT Aerospace, on November 13. This fully-electric, fixed-wing UAV represents the initial major prototype developed by the company, which aims to transform regional aviation in India. Founded in January 2025 alongside Surobhi Das, LAT Aerospace is focused on creating a new generation of Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. These innovative vehicles are designed to operate from smaller air-stops, bypassing traditional airport requirements. Goyal shared the exciting news on X (formerly Twitter), showcasing images and video of the aircraft and confirming its readiness for flight. The UAV boasts impressive capabilities, including the ability to take off in a mere 40 meters, thanks to its high lift coefficient of 5—more than double that of standard aircraft. With a flight endurance of 60 minutes, it can autonomously cruise between major cities like Mumbai and Pune, marking a significant advancement in short-haul aerial mobility. To achieve this feat in just a few months, Goyal and his team built their entire flight lab from scratch, designing every component in-house. Ground roll tests have already been conducted, with plans for the first flight to occur within weeks. Looking to the future, LAT Aerospace is also exploring hybrid-electric propulsion systems and is in the process of assembling a team to develop indigenous gas turbine engines. Goyal acknowledged the complexity of this engineering challenge, emphasizing that his team is dedicated to making this vision a reality before the decade concludes. With ongoing flight testing of the initial demonstrators, LAT Aerospace plans to scale its operations through industrial partnerships aimed at bringing its first generation of aircraft into service. The company aspires to create a dense regional aviation network that is made in India, designed for the Indian market, and has potential for global scalability. Goyal clarified that LAT Aerospace operates independently from his other venture, Eternal, which focuses on restaurant and logistics technology.