Drone Industry

India signs up to procure more Heron MK-II drones after Operation Sindoor

India has signed up to procure additional satellite-linked Heron MK II drones under emergency provisions, aiming to significantly enhance its defence capabilities following their effective use during Operation Sindoor, according to an Israeli defence industry source. The Heron MK II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), already in service with the Indian Army and Air Force, will now be incorporated into the Indian Navy, said the source working with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). In September, the defence ministry issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of 87 MALE drones, with a focus on an indigenous Make in India programme that allows foreign collaboration. "For us, India is a major customer," the unnamed IAI official said. "Our partnership spans over three decades and generations of systems." After Operation Sindoor, all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces have selected the Heron MK II for emergency procurement, the official stated, but did not disclose the

ideaForge Technology skyrockets 12% on securing deals from Defence Ministry

The uptick in ideaForge Technology share price came after the company secured two orders worth ₹107 crore from the Ministry of Defence.

Mumbai to launch first residential drone-enabled deliveries in early 2026

SkyeAir and Siddha Sejal Group will introduce Mumbai's first drone-powered residential delivery service in early 2026, offering faster access to essentials, packages, and e-commerce orders

Militaries seek cheaper defences as drones reshape modern battlefields

Drone costs can range from just a few hundred to several thousand dollars, and their price tag is rapidly depreciating as innovation and mass production pick up

This smallcap drone maker stock plunges 7% on weak Q1 show; details here

Ideaforge Technology share price tanked after posting weak set of results in the June quarter of financial year 2026 (Q1FY26).

French firm CYGR, RRP Defence to launch $50 mn drone plant in Navi Mumbai

RRP Defence on Saturday announced that it has partnered with French firm CYGR to set up a drone manufacturing facility in India at an initial investment of around USD 50 million (around Rs 430 crore). This partnership aims to deliver advanced drone systems designed for tactical, surveillance, and industrial use, leveraging French-American technology and Indian manufacturing capability, the RRP group company said in a statement. The two companies are expected to invest USD 50 million initially in the facility, which will be scaled up to USD 100 million later, RRP Defence Chairman Rajendra Chodankar said. The facility, to be located in Navi Mumbai, will support the production of next-generation drones, including nano drones, ISR drones, and hand-launched fixed-wing drones. The focus would be on defence, homeland security, and industrial drone solutions, it said, adding that the plant would contribute to India's high-skill employment and aerospace exports. "By combining our local ...

Trump signs order to boost drone security ahead of World Cup, Olympics

Officials say the aim of the orders is to boost US manufacturing and innovation while reducing dependence on foreign rivals like China, which leads the global commercial drone market

What's 'Bhargavastra', India's new weapon designed to destroy enemy drones?

The weapon system has been made by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited and is a big step forward in protecting the country from drone threats

DroneAcharya, ideaForge, Paras Defence gain upto 5% on March 21; here's why

The surge in these stocks followed the news that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is likely to announce a uniform 5 per cent GST rate on all commercial-use drones in its upcoming meeting

Russia fires record number of drones into Ukraine on war's 3rd anniversary

Russia launched more strike drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday than in any other single attack of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday, one day before the three-year anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion. Writing on social media, Zelenskyy said 267 strike drones had been sent in what he called the largest attack since Iranian drones began hitting Ukrainian cities and villages. Ukraine's air force said 138 drones had been shot down over 13 Ukrainian regions, with 119 more lost en route to their targets. Three ballistic missiles had also been fired, the air force said. One person was killed in a missile strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih, according to the head of the Kryvyi Rih military administration. The attack came as leaders in Kyiv and across Europe are seeking to navigate rapid changes in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump, who in a matter of days has upended years of firm support for Ukraine, leading to fears that he would join

DroneAcharya, AVPL strategic merger to redefine India's drone tech sector

BSE-listed DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations has signed a term sheet for a strategic merger with AVPL International. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. A joint release announcing the strategic merger said the move marks a significant step towards strengthening India's position as a global leader in drone technology and innovation. "DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations has officially signed a term sheet for a strategic merger with AVPL International (AITMC Ventures Ltd), marking a pivotal moment in India's drone technology landscape," it said. The collaboration aims to transform the Indian drone ecosystem by combining DroneAcharya's expertise in R&D and innovation with AVPL's vast infrastructure and talent-skilling capabilities, the release said. Together, the companies plan to drive advancements in drone manufacturing, ensuring state-of-the-art technology is accessible across industries such as agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, and defence. Preet Sandhuu, Founder

AVPL International to invest Rs 15 cr for drone manufacturing unit in Bihar

AVPL International on Tuesday said it will set up a drone manufacturing facility in Bihar with an investment of Rs 15 crore. The new facility, which will be set up in an area of 16,000 sq ft in the Bihta Industrial Area, will have the capacity to produce up to 24,000 drones annually, the company said in a statement. "This project is more than just a manufacturing facility. It's a step towards empowering local communities, capacity building and fostering drone entrepreneurship," AVPL International Founder and Managing Director Preet Sandhuu said in a statement. The manufacturing facility is likely to generate employment opportunities for around 10,000 youth, including 200 in-house employees, the company added. Founded in 2016, AVPL International has expanded its reach to over 12 states and established over 70 skill and incubation hubs.

Here's how 1,000 days of Russia Ukraine conflict fuelled robot wars

In February, Ukrainian troops were already telling Reuters that the preponderance of Russian drones made it harder for them to move around freely and build fortifications

Drone startup Airbound raises $1.7 million funding, to focus on deliveries

Airbound will deploy its R&D efforts to initially focus on medical deliveries and then expand into other areas such as food and groceries

Drone seizures at Punjab border double to 'unprecedented' 200: BSF

Drone seizures along the International Border in Punjab have doubled to 200 as Pakistani syndicates continue to push narcotics and weapons to "destabilise" India by inducing drug addiction in the youth and "disintegrating" social harmony, the BSF said. With the recovery of four more drones in the last 24 hours, over 200 Pakistan-based rouge drones have been seized along this border, it said in a statement issued on Saturday. The BSF guards the 2,290 km of this border running on India's western flank, including 553 km of the front along Punjab. The IB also runs along Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir (LoC in Kashmir), Rajasthan and Gujarat. The force had seized a total of 107 drones at the Punjab border in 2023. The BSF said the almost doubled up drones seizure this year is a "significant landmark" and "remarkable milestone" that "reflects the force's enhanced anti-drone strategies and the deployment of advanced technical counter-measures along the border." BSF troops, as per the force, h

Marut Drones raises $6.2 million from Lok Capital in Series A funding

Marut Drones is also exploring disaster management and surveillance applications

TechEagle launches eight drone hubs with healthcare partners across India

Drone logistics firm TechEagle on Monday announced the launch of eight dedicated hubs in collaboration with the country's premier healthcare institutions across eight states. The dedicated drone hubs, inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week as part of Rs 12,850-crore multiple healthcare sector projects, will serve as critical points for rapidly deploying medical supplies, including essential medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic samples to underserved and hard-to-reach communities, TechEagle said in a statement. The eight dedicated facilities include hubs at AIIMS Guwahati, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Bilaspur, and AIIMS Bhopal, among others, it stated. With a targeted reach of over 200 locations across Assam, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh and others in the coming year, this initiative (of setting up dedicated hubs) will be a game changer for India's drone logistics landscapes, the company said. "Our drone trials with AIIMS reduced delivery times to just 20-30

Israel may use a secret stealth drone against Iran. Here's what we know

US reportedly investigating last week's leak of its highly classified intelligence about Israeli plans for retaliation against Iran's October 1 missile barrage

Total ban on drone imports to encourage local startups, says minister Naidu

Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday said India has totally banned the import of drones to encourage local talent to manufacture them. Addressing the two-day national drone summit at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, the Civil Aviation Minister noted that the government banned drone imports as it does not want some other country or company to benefit at the cost of India. We have banned the total import of drones, why did we do it? We want to encourage more startups to come in this drone sector. We want the people of this country to manufacture drones. We don't want to import drones and let the benefit go to some other country or some other company, said Naidu. According to the union minister, the government wants the young and bright minds of the country to develop new types of drones to cater to solutions which are indigenous to the country, so, with that mindset we banned imports. The aviation minister highlighted that the Centre has liberalised rules for the