Indian Army Awards ₹137 Crore Contract to ideaForge for Hybrid Mini UAVs
ideaForge Technology has announced a significant emergency procurement order from the Indian Army, valued at ₹137 crore, for its hybrid Mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These drones, which played a critical role in Operation Sindoor—India's recent cross-border endeavor against Pakistan—are set to be delivered over the next 12 months.
The selection of the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones was made via a fast-track procurement process. They are specifically designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in challenging terrains. Their hybrid design, which merges the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft with the lifting abilities of a quadcopter, enables them to function without the need for a runway, making them particularly suitable for high-altitude and constrained environments.
The Indian Army stipulated stringent conditions for the procurement, requiring that none of the core components of the drones be sourced from nations sharing a land border with India. ideaForge complied with this condition following thorough inspections by two technical teams that visited its production facilities to verify the origin and integrity of every component.
The drone systems have been certified as “Fit for Indian Military Use” by the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), confirming their adherence to military standards of durability, resilience, and mission effectiveness.
This acquisition is part of a larger strategy by India's armed forces to bolster readiness in response to recent conflicts along the western border. Under emergency procurement regulations, the military is allowed to swiftly purchase essential equipment, utilizing up to 15 percent of the annual defense modernization budget. For the 2025–26 period, this allocation is set at ₹24,000 crore.
In addition to the Mini UAVs, the armed forces are also procuring loitering munitions, anti-tank missiles, counter-drone systems, and artillery rounds to address critical operational capability gaps and ensure strategic preparedness.
