New Delhi: Indian drone manufacturer ideaForge has secured orders worth over Rs 100 crore from the Indian Army, including one for its newest UAV – ZOLT Tactical – valued at Rs 75 crore, and an additional Rs 30 crore order for SWITCH V2, which is already in service with the force.
The orders follow an extensive evaluation process that included field trials to check performance in electronic warfare environments and stringent country-of-origin checks to rule out any critical Chinese components.
Launched at Aero India 2025, ZOLT represents ideaForge’s next-generation evolution in tactical UAV design. It is capable of long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision payload delivery – roles that are critical for modern-day defence operations.
Designed for high-threat, high-altitude and signal-contested environments, ZOLT delivers electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities, including GNSS denied autonomy (a system that can operate on its own without relying on GPS) and resilience to communication jamming.
“At ideaForge, we continue to strengthen India’s position in the global UAV ecosystem and remain at the forefront of this transformation by driving performance, reliability, autonomy, and resilience in every platform we build. The development of ZOLT stems from our technological foresight, deep investment in innovation of substance, and our commitment to indigenisation and electronic warfare resilience,” Ankit Mehta, CEO and co-founder of ideaForge said in a statement.
The drone can adapt to a variety of modern missions ranging from counter-insurgency and border surveillance to tactical strike operations. Its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) versatility also enables operations in challenging terrain while maintaining fixed-wing endurance.
IdeaForge, a listed company, reported a 41.3% year-on-year rise in net profit to Rs 19.5 crore for the second quarter of FY26, compared to Rs 13.8 crore in the corresponding period last year.
Another ideaForge platform, Q6 UAV, received a NATO stock number (NSN), which enables its inclusion in NATO and allied procurement systems. The company has formed a joint venture through its US subsidiary with First Breach Inc. to manufacture and market select UAVs in the US.
Developed entirely in India, Q6 can be deployed in under 10 minutes.
With 60 minutes of endurance, a 5km operational range for day and night operations, and a 5.9 kg payload capacity, Q6 is field-proven across varied terrains from high-altitude zones to flood-affected areas. The platform is already operational with Indian defence and disaster management forces.
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