DGCA Grants Type Certificate to KICL’s KOAIR-10L Drone

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted a Type Certificate to Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited (KICL) for its KOAIR-10L Drone on 9 October 2026. The Chennai-based company announced the certificate to the Bombay Stock Exchange on the same date.

Certificate and Manufacturer

The certificate, numbered T09260000127/00, was issued under applicable provisions of the Drone Rules, 2021. It covers the KOAIR-10L, an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) developed by KICL. The certificate permits the company to proceed with commercial deployment within India’s regulatory framework. A Type Certificate is a regulatory approval for a drone model’s conformity with applicable requirements. The Drone Rules, 2021 provide the framework for type certification and operation of drones in India.

Design and Agricultural Application

The KOAIR-10L is a medium-class hexacopter with a 10-litre tank. A hexacopter is a rotary-wing aircraft with six rotors. The drone is designed for spraying agrochemicals in agricultural applications. The Drone Rules, 2021 classify drones by maximum all-up weight: nano drones weigh up to 250 grams; micro drones weigh more than 250 grams and up to 2 kilograms; small drones weigh more than 2 kilograms and up to 25 kilograms; medium drones weigh more than 25 kilograms and up to 150 kilograms; and large drones weigh more than 150 kilograms.

India’s Drone Regulatory Framework

The Drone Rules, 2021 govern the registration and operation of drones in India. The DGCA is India’s civil aviation regulator and functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The rules use the term “Unmanned Aircraft System” for the aircraft and associated systems used to operate it.

Important Facts for Exams

• The DGCA issued the KOAIR-10L Type Certificate on 9 October 2026.
• The certificate number is T09260000127/00.
• The KOAIR-10L has a 10-litre tank and a six-rotor hexacopter configuration.
• The Drone Rules, 2021 classify drones into nano, micro, small, medium and large categories by weight.

Commercial Deployment

KICL is headquartered in Chennai, and the KOAIR-10L is intended for agricultural agrochemical spraying. The certificate was issued under India’s Drone Rules, 2021.