TDB-DST backs Agnikul Cosmos's reusable Agnibaan launch vehicle with ₹200 crore

The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology, signed an agreement with Agnikul Cosmos (Chennai) for ₹200 crore financial support under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, provided through Optionally Convertible Debentures, to develop the Agnibaan RLV - a fully reusable launch vehicle - taking the technology from TRL-4 to TRL-8. The project seeks full-system reusability (beyond recovering only the first stage), built around a lightweight reusable upper stage and a semi-cryogenic liquid propulsion system capable of deep throttling and restart for controlled descent and recovery. Agnikul has previously developed Agnibaan, its indigenous orbital-class launch vehicle, and the Agnilet engine, a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine built in-house.