Knight in Armour: Garuda’s White Knight Comes to The Rescue During Trying Times

May 2, 2021: Garuda Aerospace has deployed 15 White Knight drones as a part of feasibility analysis and trials to deliver Covid- 19 medicines and vaccines in four Bangalore hospitals - JJR Nagar Referral Hospital, Victoria Hospital, Vanivilas Hospital, and Bowring Hospital. The highly specialized drones can carry a payload of 35-40 kg, comes with a temperature-controlled module, and can travel 50-60 km with an endurance capacity of 2 hours.

According to a report by The Hindu Business Line, the drones will deliver vaccines and medicines within the hospitals from one ward to another, or from one building to the other building. This move comes as a part of field trials and feasibility analysis. Last year, during the lockdown, the trials were conducted.

Apart from delivering medical essentials, the White Knight drones will conduct sanitization operations across the country as well. Mr. PC Mohan, MP, Bengaluru Central said that the growing demand for Covid-19 vaccines at Primary Healthcare Centres has encouraged the special task force to commence the operations by utilizing drones in the fight against Covid-19. In a first, drone delivery of Covid-19 vaccines will undergo feasibility analysis and field trials in Karnataka under the supervision of the Karnataka Health Ministry and the Special Taskforce. If successful, this could be a breakthrough in ensuring the Covid-19 vaccine reaches remote rural areas and geographically isolated locations across the country. According to Agnishwar Jayaprakash, founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, the real-time application of the drones delivering Covid-19 vaccines looks promising.