ideaForge Technology announced on Monday that it has secured an emergency procurement order valued at approximately ₹137 crore from the Indian Army for its hybrid mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Indian Army has selected ideaForge’s drones—designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions—through a fast-track procurement process aimed at addressing urgent operational needs. Furthermore, these hybrid Mini UAVs incorporate a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system that combines fixed-wing capabilities with quadcopter-style lift. As a result, they can operate efficiently in challenging terrains without requiring a runway.
ideaForge stated that the Indian Army previously tested and deployed these drones during Operation Sindoor, the recent cross-border mission against Pakistan. Their ability to deliver real-time surveillance proved vital to the success of the military operation.
One of the key conditions of this emergency procurement was that none of the drone’s core components could originate from countries sharing a land border with India. To comply with this, ideaForge underwent rigorous inspections. Notably, two independent technical teams conducted site visits to its manufacturing facilities and thoroughly verified the Indian origin of every critical component. As a result, the company successfully met this requirement.
The Mini UAV from ideaForge has already received certification as “Fit for Indian Military Use” from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), signifying that it meets the military’s rigorous standards for durability and operational performance.
ideaForge is scheduled to complete the ₹137 crore order within 12 months.
This procurement, therefore, aligns with a broader initiative by the Indian armed forces to swiftly acquire critical defense equipment—including loitering munitions, counter-drone technologies, anti-tank guided missiles, and artillery ammunition—following recent operations along the western border. As per the 2025–26 Union Budget, this emergency procurement cap currently stands at ₹24,000 crore.
