ideaForge bags ₹137 crore deal from Indian Army for Mini drones

ideaForge Technology, an Indian manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has received an emergency procurement order worth approximately ₹137 crore from the Indian Army. The order is for hybrid Mini UAV systems already in use for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

These UAVs are fixed-wing platforms with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. The Army selected them after a detailed evaluation process that focused on performance, indigenous content, and supply chain security. The selection process required that critical components of the UAVs not be sourced from countries sharing land borders with India.

Two independent technical committees were set up following the field trials to verify the UAVs’ components. These teams visited manufacturing facilities and conducted checks to confirm the origin and security of all sub-systems. ideaForge met the criteria by using non-border nation sources and delivering a largely indigenous system.

The order follows earlier certification of the hybrid Mini UAV by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), marking it as "Fit for Indian Military Use." The platform was also used in Operation Sindoor, where it supported ISR tasks during active deployments, confirming its operational readiness.

The procurement is scheduled for completion within 12 months to meet urgent operational needs. The decision reflects the Army’s focus on deploying reliable and locally developed aerial systems.

The company’s Mini UAVs will be used in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations to assist in gathering situational information. The order is part of broader efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology and increase the use of domestically produced defense equipment under current procurement guidelines.

Ankit Mehta, CEO, ideaForge Technology Limited, said,“This emergency procurement for CI/CT operations, which will help safeguard national security, along with the military-use certification for Mini UAVs, reaffirms our commitment to building world-class, reliable UAVs in India.”