Alteon Secures $2.5 Million for Long-Endurance Autonomous Aircraft

Bengaluru-based technology firm Alteon has secured $2.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Lachy Groom, with participation from Together Fund. The company is developing autonomous aircraft designed for ultra-long endurance, aiming to remain airborne for months without landing.

The raised capital will be used to advance Alteon's dynamic soaring technology, scale its research and development efforts, and deploy aircraft fleets over the ocean. The startup recently completed a successful offshore flight test, where an aircraft autonomously flew multiple loops close to the ocean's surface.

Alteon's aircraft utilize wind energy to stay aloft, mimicking the flight of albatrosses. The company's objective is to create aircraft that can remain airborne for over a year, enabling continuous ocean observation and supporting authorities in monitoring activities such as illegal fishing and drug trafficking.

The funding round coincides with the growth of India's drone market, driven by increasing demand across defense, surveillance, and logistics sectors. Other Indian companies, including NewSpace Research & Technologies and Airbound, are also developing similar autonomous unmanned systems.