The Indian Army has urgently procured mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth 1.37 billion rupees (around $16 million) from domestic drone maker ideaForge.
The company is set to deliver a yet-to-be-disclosed number of fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs and accessories within a year. The selection focused on maximizing indigenous content and strictly excluded components sourced from nations bordering India.
The hybrid drones, proven in combat during the brief India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, will be deployed in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism roles.
To confirm compliance with sourcing guidelines, two independent technical committees conducted detailed inspections of ideaForge’s production sites, verifying the domestic and secure origin of all critical subsystems.
The deal supports India’s broader “Make in India” defense strategy, which emphasizes domestic capability building and reducing reliance on imported defense technologies.
