New Delhi: The Indian Army has signed a Rs 137 crore contract with Mumbai-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer ideaForge through the emergency procurement route, for the supply of hybrid Mini UAV systems.
The drones, which were battle-tested during Operation Sindoor for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, will be delivered within 12 months to meet immediate operational needs, the company said in a statement.
ideaForge said the contract was awarded following a stringent evaluation process that placed emphasis on performance, security, and supply chain integrity. The hybrid Mini UAV is a fixed-wing VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) platform, designed for rapid deployment in complex terrains and contested environments.
A key requirement during the selection process was that critical subsystems be sourced only from non-border-sharing nations, in line with the defence ministry’s ongoing efforts to limit foreign dependencies, especially on Chinese-origin components and promote domestic manufacturing.
As ThePrint reported in March, the government has been working to finalise a framework that restricts Chinese components in UAVs deployed in sensitive operational areas, particularly along India’s northern and eastern borders. Drones with Chinese embedded components have been flagged as a serious concern by the defence establishment.
ideaForge noted that its UAVs underwent “a rare and rigorous validation process” involving two separate high-level technical committees formed after the trials. These panels conducted multiple factory visits, physically and digitally stripping down each UAV unit to verify the origin of every critical component, assess embedded security architecture, and confirm supplier credibility.
According to the company, a crucial aspect of the evaluation was to ensure exclusion of
components from countries sharing land borders with India, aligning with policy guidelines that favour indigenous platforms and trusted sourcing.
The hybrid Mini UAV has already received the ‘Fit for Indian Military Use’ certification from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), a certificate given only to systems that meet stringent standards of operational resilience, reliability and combat-readiness.
The platform was also deployed during Operation Sindoor, where it was used by the Indian Army in live ISR operations. The performance of the UAV in real-world conditions was cited
in the statement as a key factor that validated its technological robustness and mission utility.
Ankit Mehta, co-founder and CEO of ideaForge, added, “This emergency procurement for
counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations reaffirms our commitment to building reliable, mission-critical UAVs in India. It is a matter of pride that our platforms are not just made in India, but are built to serve India under the toughest operational scenarios, supported by a trusted and resilient supply chain,” Mehta said.
The order is part of the sixth edition of the emergency procurement drive, which Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed on Friday. The government had approved the drive worth around Rs 40,000 crore in mid-May under which the services can fast-track the delivery of critical weapons systems, ammunition and surveillance platforms identified as urgent requirements post-Operation Sindoor.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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