India today stands at a defining crossroads, ready to reinvent itself as one of the world’s foremost hubs of deep-tech innovation. The country is entering a decade that will shape its role on the global stage, not just as a consumer of technology but as an innovative creator.
The Economic Survey 2024-25 notes that India’s gross expenditure on R&D is approaching 1% of GDP, a marked improvement though still behind global leaders. More importantly the trajectory is clear, India is investing not only in digital public infrastructure but also in indigenous deep-tech capabilities that will define the future.
This shift is already visible. Indian engineering, long associated with services, now leads original product innovation across defence, aerospace, and robotics. A Nexgen Exhibitions study released recently, projects the Indian drone manufacturing industry alone to reach USD 23 billion by 2030, a figure which underlines the sheer scale of opportunities ahead.
Additionally, as per a Military Drone Industry report by Technavio, the global military drone market is projected to grow by USD 10.29 billion between 2024 and 2029, at a CAGR of 13.1%. This reflects the increasing reliance on unmanned systems worldwide. But India’s story is rather unique. Fuelled by a strong digital infrastructure, progressive policy support, and steadily rising R&D investments, the nation has laid the foundation for a new era of innovation.
For companies like ideaForge, this is not just about business growth, it is about contributing to India’s emergence as a true innovation nation.
From Digital Prowess to Deep-Tech Strength
India’s achievements in building digital public infrastructure are now part of global case studies. Aadhaar brought biometric identity to over a billion people. UPI revolutionised real time digital payments, clocking billions of monthly transactions. Platforms like ONDC are reshaping commerce. These examples proved India’s ability to innovate at scale.
The digitisation of land records through property cards under the SWAMITVA scheme is another landmark initiative, the world’s largest of its kind. Similarly, India’s push towards large scale land mapping using digital twin technology, a capability mastered by very few nations, is setting new benchmarks. Programs like Namo Gange and Operation Dronagiri further underline the nation’s ambition to apply deep-tech solutions to environmental conservation and geospatial intelligence.
Mastering autonomy, AI, advanced robotics, and embedded systems is the challenge of the decade. Drones represent the perfect intersection of these technologies. Unmanned aerial systems are already solving critical gaps in surveillance and monitoring. Equipped with high resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and supported by cloud analytics, drones extend visibility far beyond traditional methods. Platforms like ideaForge’s FLYGHT App automate drone flights for consistent, error free monitoring.
India today stands at a defining crossroads, ready to reinvent itself as one of the world’s foremost hubs of deep-tech innovation. The country is entering a decade that will shape its role on the global stage, not just as a consumer of technology but as an innovative creator
With our in-house developed BlueFire Live! software, businesses can view live drone video streams remotely from anywhere, enabling real time situational awareness. Combined with AI powered insights, drones can detect anomalies instantly, anticipate risks, and prevent incidents before they escalate. This capability allows factories, logistics hubs, and large industrial estates to remain under continuous, intelligent watch, enhancing both safety and efficiency.
Our UAVs including the recently launched NETRA 5, and SWITCH V2 are indigenously manufactured in India. From advanced hardware to proprietary software and AI driven autonomy, every element is designed indigenously. They are also equipped to operate in GNSS denied environments, ensuring mission success even under the most challenging conditions. This commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India’ initiatives ensures that our systems are not only technologically advanced but also sovereign, secure, and resilient.
Drones as Strategic Assets and Sovereign Tech
Drones today are more than efficiency tools. They are strategic assets that demand multidisciplinary excellence by integrating aerospace design, mechatronics, communications, and AI-driven analytics. Their ability to operate reliably in high stakes environments has made them indispensable across defence, homeland security, disaster response, and critical infrastructure. In the recent global conflicts including Operation Sindoor, drones have proven to be a crucial factor in redefining modern warfare, transforming from surveillance tools to decisive strike assets in global conflicts. This evolution reflects their growing strategic importance.
India has already taken bold steps in this field. In 2025, the Ministry of Defence concluded 13 Emergency Procurement contracts worth nearly ₹2000 crore for advanced drone systems, underscoring the confidence in domestic UAV platforms for counter-terrorism and border security roles.
But beyond procurement, the key differentiator is sovereignty. In a geopolitically sensitive world, dependence on foreign technology can create vulnerabilities. Platforms designed and manufactured entirely in India ensure data security, reduce dependencies, and provide true strategic autonomy.
Indian engineering, long associated with services, now leads original product innovation across defence, aerospace, and robotics. A Nexgen Exhibitions study released recently, projects the Indian drone manufacturing industry alone to reach USD 23 billion by 2030, a figure which underlines the sheer scale of opportunities ahead
At ideaForge, we embody this principle by building every critical component, from hardware and flight controllers to communication systems and AI modules, within India. This end-to-end control not only guarantees performance and reliability in mission-critical deployments but also strengthens a secure, self-reliant supply chain. Today, ideaForge stands as the world’s third-largest dual-use (civil and defence) drone manufacturer, reflecting both our leadership in the Indian market and the global credibility of our innovation. India is now better prepared for modern warfare because it is embracing indigenous technologies that reduce reliance on external suppliers and ensure national security.
The ideaForge Blueprint: Mission First Innovation in India
Our journey began at IIT Bombay with a simple conviction: build for the hardest missions, not the easiest markets. From the outset, the team focussed on creating UAVs that could endure the toughest real-world conditions. Early prototypes were tested alongside Indian security forces in high altitude, extreme weather, and rugged terrains, helping refine performance for endurance, precision, and reliability.
This mission-first philosophy guided ideaForge’s evolution into a fully integrated UAV manufacturer in India, where every component from autopilot systems and AI autonomy modules to flight controllers and communication stacks is developed in-house to ensure complete control, sovereignty, and strategic reliability. In January 2025, the SWITCH MINI UAV became the first and only small UAV to receive the prestigious “Fit for Indian Military Use” certification from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), reinforcing its readiness for frontline deployment. Building on this momentum, ideaForge secured a ₹137 crore emergency procurement order from the Indian Army for hybrid Mini UAVs, which were subsequently deployed in Operation Sindoor for ISR missions. These UAVs passed rigorous audits and met stringent sourcing requirements that excluded critical components from neighbouring countries.
Among ideaForge’s latest platforms, the SWITCH V2 continues to deliver exceptional long endurance performance in challenging terrains, making it indispensable for reconnaissance and surveillance. Meanwhile, the newly launched NETRA 5 is designed for the next generation of missions, offering AI-enabled autonomy, dual EO/IR payloads, modular sensor options such as LiDAR and SAR, and rapid deployment in under three minutes even in GNSS-denied environments. Together, these systems embody years of research, field validation, and continuous innovation, ensuring they perform with precision and reliability where lives depend on them.
Mastering autonomy, AI, advanced robotics, and embedded systems is the challenge of the decade. Drones represent the perfect intersection of these technologies. Unmanned aerial systems are already solving critical gaps in surveillance and monitoring. Equipped with high resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and supported by cloud analytics, drones extend visibility far beyond traditional methods. Platforms like ideaForge’s FLYGHT App automate drone flights for consistent, error free monitoring
From India, For the World: Taking Indian Deep-Tech Global
India’s growing deep-tech maturity is now visible globally. Our strong foundation in mission critical deployments at home has given Indian companies credibility abroad. The country’s ability to integrate UAVs effectively into security and defence is a sign that its innovation is not only indigenous but globally relevant.
Exports of indigenous drones are gaining steady momentum, reflecting India’s growing status as a deep-tech hub. In FY 2023–24, India’s defence exports touched a record ₹21,083 crore, marking a 32.5% year-on-year rise, according to the Ministry of Defence. Among the companies driving this growth, ideaForge has actively entered international markets, including the United States, where it is conducting overseas demonstrations to meet local compliance standards. By scaling responsibly and focussing on credibility abroad, ideaForge exemplifies how Indian deep-tech is no longer confined to domestic needs, but is increasingly global by design.
India’s innovation ecosystem is entering a phase where domestic products, proven in India’s most challenging environments, can compete on equal footing with established global leaders.
While the US, Israel, and China have built formidable UAV capabilities, India is carving its own path by focussing on indigenous platforms in the micro, mini, and small UAV categories. These have already earned recognition for reliability and precision in counter-terrorism, border security, and disaster management roles. The challenge now is to accelerate adoption and integration, scaling these strengths into larger categories without compromising sovereignty.
India’s exports are not merely about trade; they are about changing perceptions. They show that Indian innovation, grounded in purpose and performance, can solve global problems with resilience and precision.
Drones today are more than efficiency tools. They are strategic assets that demand multidisciplinary excellence by integrating aerospace design, mechatronics, communications, and AI-driven analytics. Their ability to operate reliably in high stakes environments has made them indispensable across defence, homeland security, disaster response, and critical infrastructure. In the recent global conflicts including Operation Sindoor, drones have proven to be a crucial factor in redefining modern warfare, transforming from surveillance tools to decisive strike assets in global conflicts. This evolution reflects their growing strategic importance
Looking Ahead: India’s Decade of Deep-Tech Leadership
India’s future lies in owning the intellectual property, platforms, and systems that will define tomorrow’s security and innovation landscape. To achieve this, continued investment in R&D, AI, autonomy, and energy efficient hardware is essential.
Policy frameworks ranging from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, along with programmes supporting innovation and R&D must continue to empower innovators. Collaboration between defence startups, policymakers, and large enterprises will also be critical. The opportunity is massive, creating thousands of high skill jobs and enhancing national security. Equally important is nurturing a new generation of deep-tech talent, ensuring India not only develops advanced technologies but also builds the expertise to sustain them. By fostering global collaborations while remaining rooted in self-reliance, India can establish itself as a trusted hub for frontier innovation.
At ideaForge, we see our role as part of this ecosystem. Our goal is not only to deliver cutting edge UAVs but to ensure they contribute to India’s strategic independence and global reputation.
This is not just India’s moment, it is India’s movement. With the right push through policy, capital, and collaboration, India can lead the next era of trusted, sovereign technology offering. And ideaForge is proud to be amongst those helping to shape that future.
The writer is Chief Financial Officer - ideaForge
