The Indian Army has made an emergency order for mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth 1. 37 billion rupees (about $16 million) from ideaForge, an Indian company. They will supply fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing drones and their accessories within a year. These drones are designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks and were used during a conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
The procurement is aimed at counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations and emphasizes using components not sourced from India’s neighboring countries. The CEO of ideaForge, Ankit Mehta, stated that this order affirms their commitment to creating reliable UAVs in India.
To ensure compliance with selection criteria, two technical committees inspected ideaForge’s facilities to confirm the origins of all parts used in the UAVs. This order aligns with the “Make in India” initiative to reduce reliance on foreign defense technology and boost local production and innovation.
