IG Defence
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
India's premier indigenous defence technology manufacturer specializing in combat-ready drones, counter-UAS systems, ISR platforms and AI-powered defence solutions. IG Defence was founded in 2018. The company is led by Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya. Based in Noida, India. Team size: 101-500. Total funding raised: $6.55M. Latest round: Pre-Series A. Key investors include India Accelerator, Finvolve, Angel Bay, MARL Fund, Quant Fund, C-CAMP, Nandak Growth Catalysts.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Noida, India
- Team size
- 101-500
- Total funding
- $6.55M
Value proposition
Provides sovereign, battle-ready defence systems across land, sea, air, and space domains, combining indigenous unmanned systems with AI-enabled command, electronic warfare, and cyber defence capabilities.
Products and solutions
KAL: Indigenous long-range one-way attack / loitering munition with up to 1,000 km range for deep-penetration strikes, JWALA MK1: Indigenous short-range surface-to-air / surface-to-surface missile system, FPV Striker / Kamikaze FPV drones: Combat-validated low-cost precision strike UAVs (incl. ~₹1 lakh class; 5,000+ units supplied), Counter-UAS / anti-drone systems: Inducted by Indian Army and other forces, ISR & tactical UAVs: High-endurance surveillance platforms with EO/IR; fixed-wing tactical UAS (patented), Skyhawk: India's first 5G-enabled VTOL drone, IG Military Simulator: India's first indigenous defence drone simulator, IG One: AI-powered analytics platform
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
Indian Armed Forces and defence/homeland-security agencies (primary); friendly foreign militaries (Gulf, SE Asia, Central Asia exports); government infrastructure agencies (NHAI, Railways); enterprise (Mining, Power, Oil & Gas).
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
Indian Armed Forces (Army and others; FPV/anti-drone induction; ~5,000 FPV drones supplied; Operation Sindoor deployment), 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 ~1,000 km one-way attack unmanned system, Unveiled KAL and JWALA missile system at North Tech Symposium 2026 (May 2026) with COAS Gen. Upendra Dwivedi visit, Announced ₹10,000 Cr defence business pipeline target by FY30 (June 2026), Advanced-stage talks to export KAL to multiple Gulf nations (Aug 2026); also pursuing Philippines/Kyrgyzstan and Indian 1,000-km kamikaze tenders, Supplied ~5,000 FPV drones to Indian forces; combat validation in Operation Sindoor
Growth metrics
FY25 revenue ₹22.4 Cr (~$2.7M; +330% YoY) with FY26 target ₹100 Cr; targeting ₹10,000 Cr defence business pipeline by FY30; next raise hoped ~$20M; ~5,000 FPV drones supplied; manufacturing hub planned in Ganjam, Odisha (₹300 Cr investment).
Market positioning
Leading indigenous high-tech UAV manufacturer and AI-analytics provider for infrastructure and defense.
Geographic focus
India (25+ states; Noida HQ, Bhubaneswar R&D, Ghaziabad production, planned Ganjam Odisha hub). Advanced export talks with Gulf/West Asia for KAL; also Philippines and Kyrgyzstan; India–Kenya DEFEXPO 2026 representation.
Patents and IP
Claims 25+ patents pending/filed (igdefence.com). Granted patent for indigenous Fixed-Wing Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (announced Feb 2026; warhead payload up to 5 kg). Proprietary IP also covers Skyhawk 5G integration and IG One AI architecture.
About Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya is Founder and CEO of IG Defence (formerly IG Drones) and Co-Chairman of FICCI's National Drone Committee (2026). Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024) awardee and TEDx speaker. Previously founded the ISRO-VSSUT Space Innovation Center (Rocketry). Under his leadership the company developed India's first 5G-enabled drone (Skyhawk), combat-validated FPV/strike systems used in Operation Sindoor, and is scaling indigenous long-range strike (KAL) and missile (JWALA) programmes.
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Official website: https://igdefence.com/
