Kicl Marks A Significant Milestone By Securing Dgca Type Certification For Koair-10l Agricultural Spraying Drone
Chennai: Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd (KICL), the flagship company of the D.C. Kothari group has achieved a major milestone in its drone manufacturing journey by securing a Type certification from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its KOAIR-10L agricultural spraying drone.
The Type certificate bearing No. T09260000127/00, was issued on October 9, 2026, following technical evaluation and recommendation by TQ Cert Services Private Limited, an authorised certification body. The certification was granted under the applicable Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the Drone Rules, 2021.
The KOAIR-10L is a medium-class hexacopter with a 10-litre tank capacity, specially designed for agrochemical spraying applications in agriculture. With this certification, KICL can now proceed with commercial manufacturing, sale and deployment of the drone across India subject to applicable regulatory requirements with each unit to be accompanied by a certificate of conformity.
Dr. Jinnah Rafiq Ahmed, Executive Chairman, Kothari Industrial Corporation Limited said, “We strongly believe none of us can live without the farmer stepping into the field every day, as they are the backbone of the nation. The Make in India initiative relies heavily on the agriculture sector, and when it comes to agriculture, productivity, efficiency and profitability will always be top of mind.”
He added, “Keeping these in mind, we ventured into agri-drone technology with the concept of giving back to society, especially to the farming fraternity. We felt it would be the need of the hour — to make farming smarter and safer, cost-effective, a lifesaver for farmers, and a driver of the nation’s progress.”
Advanced Technology for Agricultural Spraying
The KOAIR-10L is a medium-class, six-rotor electric drone engineered for precision agricultural spraying. With a maximum all-up weight of 30 kg, it features a 10-litre spray tank equipped with four flat-fan nozzles for uniform application of pesticides, fertilisers, and plant nutrients — ensuring maximum coverage with minimum wastage.
Built for safety, reliability, and ease of operation, the drone incorporates advanced navigation and safety systems, including:
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation for precise flight paths
Return-to-Home (RTH) functionality
Geo-fencing for safe, boundary-controlled operations
Detect-and-Avoid capability
Autonomous Flight Termination System (FTS)
Flashing anti-collision strobe light for visibility
As per its certification specifications, the KOAIR-10L is approved for Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations during both daytime and night-time, subject to applicable operational requirements — enabling farmers greater flexibility to spray at the most suitable time for their crops.
Supporting Precision Farming and Farmer Productivity
Drone-based spraying has the potential to improve the speed and consistency of agricultural operations. The KOAIR-10L helps reduce direct human exposure to agrochemicals and ensure more efficient field coverage and timely application of agricultural inputs when operated in accordance with approved procedures. Also, designed to serve farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and agricultural service providers seeking a certified drone platform for spraying applications. It empowers the farming community to improve productivity, save time and labour, and adopt sustainable, technology-driven farming practices.
The DGCA Type Certification for the KOAIR-10L represents an important step in KICL’s agricultural, technology-driven solutions for the farming sector. Through the development and deployment of drone-based spraying systems, KICL aims to contribute to the modernisation of agricultural practices and the wider adoption of precision farming in India.
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