ideaForge Technology has received an emergency procurement order worth around Rs 137 crore from the Indian Army for its hybrid Mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the company said on Monday.
The Indian Army has selected these drones, used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, under a fast-track route aimed at meeting urgent operational needs. The hybrid Mini UAVs are vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones that combine fixed-wing design with quadcopter-style lift, allowing them to operate in tough terrains without needing a runway.
According to the company, the drone systems were already tested and deployed during Operation Sindoor, the recent cross-border operation against Pakistan. Their role in providing real-time surveillance was seen as critical during the military campaign.
One of the key conditions of this emergency purchase was that none of the drone’s core parts should be sourced from countries that share a land border with India. ideaForge’s UAVs cleared this requirement after thorough inspections, which involved two separate technical teams visiting its factories and verifying the origin of each component.
The Indian Army's procurement process included detailed due diligence on the security and supply chain front, with authorities physically and digitally breaking down the UAVs to check component authenticity.
The Mini UAV has already been certified as “Fit for Indian Military Use” by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), which means it has met the military’s strict standards for durability and performance.
The order is to be fulfilled within 12 months.
This deal is part of a broader push by the Indian armed forces to stock up on critical equipment, including loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, anti-tank missiles, and artillery ammunition, after recent operations along the western border. Under emergency procurement rules, the services are allowed to make quick purchases amounting to up to 15 percent of the total defence modernisation budget. As per the 2025-26 Union Budget, this cap stands at Rs 24,000 crore.
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