Made in Kerala: How a Kozhikode cyberpark startup became Indian military's drone maker

Kozhikode (Kerala): A start-up that began 10 years ago with just three people has grown into a 180-strong team today, boasting an annual turnover exceeding ₹100 crore. If you ask who manufactures the drones used by the armed forces for detecting enemy drones and conducting other surveillance, the answer takes you straight to the UL Cyberpark in Kozhikode, specifically to a firm named ActionFi.

ActionFi was founded by Joe Kuncheria, a Palakkad native turned entrepreneur based in the United States. It initially started as a one-person venture in America. To support its operations, an office was established at the UL Cyberpark in Kozhikode in 2015. Originally, the business operated as a software integration firm, assisting global companies with their day-to-day financial operations.

During this period, an inquiry arrived from an American company seeking software development for drones, leading ActionFi to step into drone technology in 2019. However, the software they developed was not entirely compatible with every type of drone. Consequently, alongside their software development work, they established a dedicated drone manufacturing factory in Palakkad last year under a new subsidiary, Axell Drone.

The Palakkad facility is capable of producing up to 250 drones a year, with current production hovering around 100 units. For the past year, they have been manufacturing drones for the Indian military. In addition, their drones are utilised by the State Disaster Management Department, the Forest Department for monitoring wilderness areas, and various government agencies for remote-sensing surveys. The firm is currently preparing to develop drones tailored for agricultural use as well.