Bhubaneswar: IG Drones is set to establish a cutting-edge drone manufacturing and research facility in Uttar Pradesh’s defence corridor.
An MoU for this strategic collaboration, which aims to position UP as a pivotal hub for aerospace and defence innovation while ensuring the availability of next-generation indigenous drones for the armed forces and allies, was signed on October 9.
“This MoU is not just an agreement, it is a commitment to India’s self-reliance in defence technology,” said founder and CEO of IG Drones Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya.
The facility will focus on the mass production of indigenous armoured first-person-view (FPV) Striker Drones, with an annual target of 100,000 units. The Uttar Pradesh government will provide support with approvals and help the company access state and central government incentives.
The FPV Striker Drones, designed for rapid deployment, precision, and durability in extreme conditions, have successfully undergone frontline trials at the Indo-China border.
“The demand for indigenous FPV drones is surging globally, and India must seize this moment. Our upcoming facility will play a pivotal role in ensuring that production is scaled up to meet national security requirements while also exploring international opportunities,” said Major General R C Padhi, senior vice-president (R&D) at IG Drones.
He described the drone as a “tactical force multiplier” for military forces.
Founded in 2018 by five engineering graduates from Odisha and headquartered at Noida, the startup has already built a solid reputation as a trusted partner of the Indian armed forces. It had played a key role in Operation Sindoor, when it deployed a range of indigenously manufactured vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), first person view (FPV) and kamikaze drones for strategic surveillance, terrain mapping, and precision strikes. It was granted the patent for the country’s first indigenous defence drone simulator this July.
