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IG Defence

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

India's leading indigenous drone tech company specializing in AI-powered, 5G-integrated UAV solutions for high-precision mapping, surveillance, and enterprise inspections. IG Defence was founded in 2018. The company is led by Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya. Based in Noida, India. Team size: 100-200. Total funding raised: $6.55M. Latest round: Seed Round (Oct 2024). Key investors include ["India Accelerator","Finvolve","Angel Bay","MARL Fund","Quant Fund","C-CAMP","Nandak Growth Catalysts"].

Founded
2018
Headquarters
Noida, India
Team size
100-200
Total funding
$6.55M

Value proposition

Provides end-to-end drone ecosystems that combine indigenous hardware with 5G-enabled real-time data processing and AI analytics, significantly reducing inspection time and operational costs in hazardous environments.

Products and solutions

["Skyhawk: India's first 5G-enabled drone for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) operations.","IG One: A proprietary AI-powered analytics platform for automated data processing and reporting.","Survey & Mapping Drones: Specialized UAVs for large-scale infrastructure projects and the SVAMITVA scheme.","Defense & Surveillance UAVs: High-endurance drones equipped with thermal and night-vision capabilities.","Drone Centers of Excellence (CoE): A specialized training and R&D ecosystem established across 100+ educational institutions."]

Unique value

Pioneered the integration of 5G technology in Indian drones, enabling ultra-low latency and real-time remote operation over long distances, coupled with a massive 'talent moat' through 100+ educational partnerships.

Target customer

Government agencies (Defense, NHAI, Indian Railways), Enterprise sectors (Mining, Power, Oil & Gas), and Educational Institutions.

Industries served

["Defense & Homeland Security","Infrastructure (Roads, Railways, Bridges)","Power & Utilities","Mining & Natural Resources","Agriculture & Forestry","Disaster Management"]

Technology advantage

Proprietary AI algorithms for automated defect detection in infrastructure; indigenous manufacturing stack that aligns with 'Make in India' mandates, providing a competitive edge in securing sensitive government and defense contracts.

How they differentiate

Pioneered India's first 5G-enabled drone (Skyhawk) for ultra-low latency operations and established a unique 'talent moat' through 100+ Drone Centers of Excellence across India.

Main competitors

["ideaForge","Garuda Aerospace","Asteria Aerospace"]

Key partnerships

["India Accelerator (Lead Investor)","Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)","ISRO-VSSUT Space Innovation Center","National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)","Various State Governments (Odisha, Gujarat, etc.) for disaster management and land mapping"]

Notable customers

["National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)","Indian Railways","PowerGrid Corporation","Adani Group","Tata Projects","Government of Odisha"]

Major milestones

["Launched 'Skyhawk', India's first 5G-enabled VTOL drone in 2023","Founders recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2024","Established 100+ Drone Centers of Excellence (CoE) in educational institutions","Secured $1M Seed funding in October 2024 to scale manufacturing","Rebranded as IG Defence in December 2025, expanding to full-spectrum defence tech","Raised $5M Pre-Series A in March 2026 from India Accelerator and Finvolve","Reported 330% YoY revenue growth to ₹22.4 Cr in FY25","Launched Project KAL, indigenous one-way attack unmanned system"]

Growth metrics

Reported FY25 revenue of ₹22.4 Cr ($2.7M) with a target of ₹100 Cr ($12M) for FY26; 100+ Drone Centers of Excellence established.

Market positioning

Leading indigenous high-tech UAV manufacturer and AI-analytics provider for infrastructure and defense.

Geographic focus

India (operating in 25+ states), with active expansion plans for the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Patents and IP

Holds proprietary IP for the Skyhawk 5G integration and IG One AI software architecture; specific patent registration numbers are not publicly disclosed.

About Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya

Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya is the Founder and CEO of IG Drones. He is a recognized leader in the Indian drone ecosystem, honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024) awardee and a TEDx speaker. He previously founded the ISRO-VSSUT Space Innovation Center (Rocketry), the first of its kind in India. Under his leadership, IG Drones developed 'Skyhawk,' India's first 5G-enabled drone, and has secured major defense and enterprise contracts across 25+ Indian states.

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