Indian Army Signs ₹137 Crore Deal With ideaForge for Battle-Tested Surveillance Drones Amid Anti-China Push

Mumbai-based drone manufacturer ideaForge has secured a ₹137 crore contract with the Indian Army under the emergency procurement route. The deal will see the delivery of cutting-edge hybrid Mini UAV systems within 12 months, tailored explicitly for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) operations in high-conflict zones.

These drones were battle-tested during Operation Sindoor, earning their stripes in real-world counter-insurgency and surveillance missions. The Army’s ideaForge drone contract, awarded after a highly stringent technical and security evaluation, signals growing trust in homegrown defence technology amid ongoing efforts to reduce foreign dependencies, particularly on Chinese-origin components.

Drones Built for the Battlefield—and for India

The selected platform is a fixed-wing VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) hybrid UAV, combining the speed of aircraft with the versatility of rotor-based flight. This makes it ideal for rugged terrains and rapid tactical deployment in contested environments, such as India’s northern borders.

A key selection criterion was the exclusion of critical components from border-sharing nations, aligning with the Ministry of Defence’s policy to ban Chinese parts from sensitive systems. This comes as part of a broader strategic shift following intelligence concerns about potential data vulnerabilities from drones embedded with Chinese tech.

ideaForge CEO and Co-Founder Ankit Mehta stated, “This order reaffirms our commitment to building mission-critical UAVs in India. Our platforms are designed to deliver when it matters most—on the battlefield, in real-time, with complete supply chain transparency.”

Rigorous Vetting Earns DGQA Certification

The hybrid Mini UAVs not only passed performance trials but underwent a rare dual-committee validation process, which included factory visits and forensic-level disassembly of components. The UAVs received the ‘Fit for Indian Military Use’ certification from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA)—a benchmark reserved for systems that prove exceptional combat-readiness and resilience.

ideaForge’s SWITCH MINI Becomes First Small UAV to Earn Indian Military Certification

The Indian Army’s procurement comes amid ₹40,000 crore in emergency purchases approved post-Operation Sindoor, aimed at fast-tracking critical military needs across weapons, ammunition, and surveillance platforms.

Market Reaction: Short-Term Dip, Long-Term Potential

While ideaForge’s stock dipped 4% on June 24, following a surge to the upper circuit the previous day, market experts attribute the slide to sectoral cooling off after a 45% rally in defence stocks since April. However, analysts expect long-term value as the company continues to dominate India’s UAV procurement landscape.

Know Your Military Drones

From Nano to HALE, #drone classifications aren’t just about size — they define how, where & why #UAVs operate in critical missions.
Get to know our #BattleTested, next-gen drones: https://t.co/9KcVX344d9#KnowYourMilitaryDrones #ISR #MilitaryDrones pic.twitter.com/svvjMXfFEx

— ideaForge Technology Limited (@ideaforge_tech) June 26, 2025