Defence Startups Zoom Post Operation Sindoor

As defence strategies worldwide shift towards autonomous and intelligent aerial systems, the need of the hour is AI-powered, modular drone ecosystems that can operate with minimal human intervention

- BY AYUSHMAN BARUAH

When Operation Sindoor was striking Pakistan's terror infrastructure in a series of precision strikes, it was more than a strategic success for India. It was an event that validated the prowess of India's defence ecosystem and startups that have seen a major boost in the aftermath of the war. This boom has led to increased funding, investment, and a renewed focus on indigenous defence manufacturing.

For instance, Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, touted as India's only deep-tech drone company specializing in cyber-secure autonomous systems, experienced a 10-fold jump in its order pipeline during May 2025. “Today, our order pipeline of around INR 14 crore has seen close to a 10x jump from pre operations Sindoor days. This jump can be attributed to the realisation of the need for cyber secure and electronic warfare survivable drones, among the key end use segment of defence. Our patented autopilot system that is fully indigenous from the design and computing architecture level is the only Indian solution that addresses all the security concerns of the defence forces,” says Sai Pattabiram, Founder and MD, Zuppa Geo Navigations.