The Indian Army has issued an emergency procurement order worth approximately 1.37 billion rupees (about $16 million) to Indian drone manufacturer ideaForge. Under this order, ideaForge will supply an undisclosed number of fixed-wing VTOL drones and related accessories within a 12-month period.
These hybrid UAVs, intended for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles, are combat-tested and were previously deployed during the brief India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025. The drones will now be used in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism missions.
As part of the selection process, emphasis was placed on indigenous manufacturing and sourcing of key components from non-bordering nations. To ensure compliance, two technical committees inspected ideaForge’s production facilities to verify the origin of all subsystems.
The procurement aligns with the “Make in India” initiative, reinforcing efforts to boost domestic defense capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
