The Indian Army has awarded Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology a ₹137 crore emergency procurement order for its hybrid Mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The order addresses urgent operational requirements and will be executed over the next 12 months. 

The UAVs will support counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) operations by providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The procurement followed an evaluation prioritising national security, including a key stipulation that all critical components be sourced from non-border-sharing nations. 

ideaForge’s fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs met these requirements and were selected after rigorous trials and dual technical committee reviews. These reviews included physical and digital disassembly of units to verify component origin and security.

After the trials, two independent high-level technical committees were formed to double-check the integrity and origin of the mini UAV’s key sub-components. They made several visits to the factories, carefully disassembling each unit physically and digitally to verify where the components came from, check security features, and confirm authenticity.

The company expressed that the platform had already been inducted into the Army’s inventory and proven in live operations such as Operation Sindoor. It was critical in providing ISR to the armed forces. The UAVs are certified as “fit for Indian military use” by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

Ankit Mehta, CEO of ideaForge, said, “It is a matter of pride that our platforms are not just made in India, but are also built to serve and protect India under the most demanding conditions, backed by a resilient and trusted supply chain.”

ideaForge noted that its UAVs are substantially indigenous in design and capability, aligning with defence procurement norms and self-reliance objectives. 

Recently, the company received certification by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct its Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) training programme, specifically for the small class. The five-day certified training was aimed at upskilling drone pilots nationwide, addressing regulatory standards, and enhancing operational safety.

In February this year, ideaForge partnered with Vantage Robotics, a nano and micro UAV provider based in Silicon Valley, California. It also signed an MoU with Resonia to use drones in the power sector. 

Moreover, in a show of its capabilities, the company also helped capture and relocate a leopard spotted on the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus in Hyderabad in April.

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