India’s drive toward Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing continues to pay dividends as domestic firms, especially defence PSUs and deep-tech startups, continue to secure major military orders. Of late, leading state-owned defence players have been bagging several contracts from the army.
Recently, Bharat Electronics announced that it has secured additional orders worth Rs 871 crore since the last disclosure on November 10, 2025. A day before, the Ministry of Defence inked a contract with Bharat Dynamics worth Rs 2,095.70 crore. This was for the procurement of INVAR Anti-tank Missiles to boost the firepower and lethality of Tank T-90.
Now, a private defence start-up has declared that it has secured Rs 100 crore contract from the Indian Army for its advanced drones. The latest boost comes from Mumbai-based ideaForge Technology Ltd, which will provide its next-generation unmanned systems – the Zolt tactical unmanned vehicle and the SWITCH 2 all-terrain VTOL drone.
How did ideaForge secure the Army’s confidence?
The order, placed under capital emergency procurement, reflects the military’s urgent requirement for battle-ready ISR systems capable of performing in contested electromagnetic environments. It also underscores the Ministry of Defence’s growing confidence in indigenous UAV platforms following years of operational deployment.
ideaForge’s win comes after extensive field trials, rigorous assessment in electronic warfare (EW) conditions, and strict country-of-origin verification. While the procurement value for Zolt is approx. Rs 75 crore, for SWITCH 2 procurement, it is approx. Rs 30 crore.
Both platforms were showcased earlier this year at Aero India, marking the company’s transition into a global-grade tactical drone manufacturer.
What makes Zolt a game-changer for frontline ISR?
Designed for modern battlefield challenges, Zolt is a multi-role long-range platform capable of persistent intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR); precision payload delivery; operation in high-threat, EW-contested, and high-altitude environments; GNSS-denied autonomy and resistance to communication jamming; avanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM).
The Army has increasingly prioritised such systems to counter adversarial EW threats across the northern and western borders.
Why is SWITCH 2 still Army’s trusted workhorse?
Already battle-tested and inducted, SWITCH 2 continues to serve as a high-endurance VTOL platform for tactical ISR. Its proven reliability in harsh terrain, mountains, deserts and dense forests, has made it a preferred asset for infantry, special forces and artillery units.
ideaForge CEO Ankit Mehta said the order reaffirms the company’s commitment to delivering world-class systems while shaping the future of indigenous drone technology.