Modern warfare is no longer defined only by tanks, fighter jets, or sheer troop numbers. From Ukraine to the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific, today’s conflicts show a clear pattern: whoever sees first, processes data faster, and deploys autonomous systems smarter gains the edge. India, facing complex border realities and rapidly evolving threats, is quietly recalibrating its military toolkit.
What stands out in this transition is the growing role of private Indian startups. Once dependent on imports and legacy public-sector suppliers, India’s defence ecosystem is now witnessing a surge of companies building AI-driven surveillance, unmanned aerial systems, robotic platforms, and counter-drone technologies. These firms are not working in isolation, they are increasingly supplying systems to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, marking a shift from experimentation to operational relevance.
Most systems mentioned below are at various stages of induction, evaluation, or limited procurement, which is typical for emerging defence technologies.
Below are ten Indian private defence startups and companies, arranged by the scale of publicly known defence induction or procurement impact, explaining what they build and how they fit into India’s current defence posture.
1. NewSpace Research & Technologies: Swarm Warfare & Persistent Surveillance
NewSpace Research & Technologies has emerged as one of India’s most visible players in offensive drone swarming, a capability increasingly central to modern battlefields. The company develops autonomous swarm drones designed to overwhelm enemy defences through numbers and coordination, rather than relying on a single high-value platform.
Alongside offensive systems, NewSpace also builds tethered drones capable of providing long-duration aerial surveillance without the limitations of battery life. These systems are particularly suited for border monitoring and forward area observation. The Indian Army’s reported procurement of tethered drones and evaluation of swarm technologies places NewSpace among the most operationally significant drone startups in the country.
2. ideaForge: Tactical UAVs for Real-World Operations
ideaForge is one of India’s earliest and most battle-tested private drone manufacturers. Its focus is on short-range and medium-range UAVs designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. These drones are built for rapid deployment, vertical take-off and landing, and operation in difficult terrain.
The company’s platforms have been inducted by multiple Indian security forces, including during emergency procurement phases, highlighting their reliability under operational pressure. ideaForge represents the transition of Indian drones from trials and showcases to routine military use.
3. Dhaksha Unmanned Systems: High-Altitude Logistics by Air
Dhaksha Unmanned Systems focuses on a less glamorous but critical battlefield requirement: logistics. The company develops drones capable of transporting supplies across difficult terrain, particularly in high-altitude regions where road access is limited or vulnerable.
Such logistics drones are intended to support troops stationed in remote posts by reducing dependence on risky manned convoys or helicopter sorties. While parts of India’s drone procurement ecosystem have faced scrutiny over component sourcing, Dhaksha’s work highlights how unmanned logistics could reshape frontline sustainment.
4. Tonbo Imaging: Giving Soldiers Vision in All Conditions
Tonbo Imaging specialises in thermal imaging, night-vision systems, and electro-optical sensors, technologies that often determine success or failure in modern combat. Rather than building platforms like drones, Tonbo focuses on the “eyes” of the battlefield: sights, sensors, and optics that enable soldiers to operate in darkness, fog, and adverse weather.
Its systems have been procured by the Indian Army for specialised applications, reinforcing the importance of indigenous sensor technology in reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
5. Zen Technologies: Defending the Skies from Drones
As drones proliferate, so do the threats they pose. Zen Technologies has positioned itself in the counter-drone domain, developing systems that can detect, track, and neutralise hostile UAVs. These systems combine radar, electro-optics, and electronic countermeasures.
The company has received Ministry of Defence contracts for anti-drone upgrades, reflecting growing concern within Indian defence planning about drone swarms, cross-border UAVs, and low-cost aerial threats.
6. Raphe mPhibr: Building a Full-Spectrum Drone Portfolio
Raphe mPhibr is among the few Indian startups attempting to build a full-spectrum unmanned ecosystem, from surveillance drones to high-altitude logistics platforms. The company has also emphasised indigenous development of critical subsystems, such as flight controllers and propulsion components.
With reported engagements across multiple Indian armed services, Raphe represents a new generation of defence firms aiming not just to supply platforms, but to own core drone technologies end-to-end.
7. Sagar Defence Engineering: Autonomous Systems at Sea
Sagar Defence Engineering operates in a domain that remains under-reported: unmanned maritime systems. The company develops unmanned surface vessels and works on advanced concepts such as underwater-launched aerial drones.
Its collaboration with DRDO and the Indian Navy reflects growing interest in autonomous platforms for surveillance, mine counter-measures, and maritime security, particularly as naval competition intensifies in the Indian Ocean Region.
8. Solar Defence and Aerospace: Precision Strike from the Air
Solar Defence and Aerospace is known for its work on loitering munitions, often described as “kamikaze drones”. These systems combine surveillance and strike capabilities, allowing operators to identify targets and attack them using a single expendable platform.
The reported Indian Army order for hundreds of loitering munitions signals a shift toward precision, low-cost strike options that can be deployed rapidly without risking pilots or expensive aircraft.
9. Asteria Aerospace: Surveillance in Difficult Terrain
Asteria Aerospace develops VTOL surveillance drones capable of operating in mountainous and high-altitude regions. These drones are designed for persistent monitoring, offering commanders near-real-time situational awareness.
The company’s platforms have been supplied to the Indian Army, underlining the growing reliance on unmanned systems for border surveillance and tactical intelligence.
10. Garuda Aerospace: From Disaster Response to Defence Support
Garuda Aerospace operates across civilian and government domains, including defence-related drone services. While not primarily known for combat platforms, the company has supported the Indian Army during disaster-relief operations using UAVs.
Such deployments demonstrate how dual-use drone capabilities can build operational trust and pave the way for broader defence applications over time.
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