A windy morning over Khavda marks the start of a potential logistics turnaround for India’s power buildouts. Large-scale EPC sites have long relied on trucks and manual labor to move heavy components across rugged terrain. Now, a new class of equipment is stepping in: heavy lift drones designed to carry substantial payloads with precision and safety. This shift represents more than a novelty; it signals a material change in how projects are planned and executed.

In a landmark move, Resonia Ltd and Amber Wings announced a strategic joint venture via MoU to deploy first-of-its-kind heavy lift drone technology across India’s power transmission builds. The agreement, unveiled during the Dubai Airshow 2025, is designed to replace slow manual logistics with autonomous aerial systems for material movement and tower work.

The immediate proof point came from a successful pilot on the Khavda IV C Transmission Project. A 50 kg payload drone moved up to four tonnes of material daily, traversing challenging terrain to keep critical work on schedule. This capability signals a shift from manual logistics to aerial logistics that can reduce on-site risk and accelerate timelines.

According to MENAFN, the MoU sets the stage for a strategic joint venture that will scale to drones with a 200 kg payload. The plan calls for swarm coordination and autonomous tower erection, with the aim of cutting project lead times and reducing dependence on road networks. The collaboration aims to blend Amber Wings’ swarm and autonomy expertise with Resonia’s EPC execution know-how to lift project performance across the sector.

What this means for project delivery is clearer now: heavier lifts can be done on demand, without the safety exposure and road travel that slow rural and hillside sites. The MoU frames the next phase, where robotic logistics and tower installation become part of the standard EPC toolkit.

Arun Sharma, CEO of Resonia, described the collaboration as a milestone: “By integrating heavy lift drone technology, Resonia is enhancing efficiency and safety on the Khavda IV C Transmission Project while laying the foundation for next-generation mechanisation across the sector.” Prof Satya Chakravarthy, founder of Ubifly Technologies and CTO of Amber Wings, added that the effort will accelerate development of higher payload drones and autonomous tower installation. Together, they emphasize a broader move toward safer, faster delivery of critical infrastructure.

Beyond hardware, the MoU emphasizes workforce development. Resonia and Amber Wings plan to train existing EPC site workers to become certified drone operators, ensuring technology adoption is inclusive and grounded in practical on-site work. The Indian power EPC market is sizable, valued at about USD 22.4 billion and projected to rise to USD 39.1 billion by 2033, according to industry reviews. As projects grow more complex, a drone-led logistics backbone can help scale execution while maintaining safety standards.

Industry watchers see this as part of a larger trend where government and industry partners push digitalisation, mechanisation, and upskilling in critical sectors. For defense planners and industry leaders alike, the message is unmistakable: automated, heavy-lift drones are moving from pilots’ demonstrations to essential project workflows.

Technologies and use cases

The plan centers on high-payload drones, swarm coordination, and autonomous tower erection. In practice, that means drones that can deliver construction materials directly to towers in hillside zones, install components with minimal manual intervention, and coordinate multiple units to speed up large tasks. Amber Wings’ UAV engineering team will bring the swarm and autonomy expertise, while Resonia provides domain knowledge in EPC execution for power lines and substations.

What to watch next

Key milestones include deployment of 200 kg payload drones, further battery improvements, and integrated training programs for workers. The collaboration is also a signal to suppliers and regulatory bodies: faster, safer, and more efficient aerial logistics are moving into the mainstream of infrastructure construction.

Conclusion

As India’s EPC sector scales up power delivery, the Resonia-Amber Wings MoU represents more than a tech demo. It signals a shift toward drone-enabled logistics and automation as a standard practice. If the 200 kg class proves reliable, the domino effect could reshape timelines, budgets, and risk management across the industry. For EPC managers, the takeaway is simple: invest in air-enabled workflows now to stay competitive tomorrow.