Took 18 yrs to grow deep & fast

Founded in 2007, Mumbai-based ideaForge has become a key player in the rapidly evolving drone industry, designing and manufacturing high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for defence, security and industrial use.

- 

The company has seen increased visibility in both markets and missions, including its recent expansion into the US through a strategic partnership.

Ankit Mehta, CEO and co-founder of ideaForge, speaks to S Shanthi about scaling up innovation, geographical expansion, and why building resilience in drone tech takes more than just speed.

Operation Sindoor brought indigenous drone capabilities into the spotlight. Will this momentum last?

The sector has definitely demonstrated its ability to innovate and scale. But to sustain that momentum, we need a predictable procurement pipeline from the government. India is already strong in missile systems, but drones are becoming just as critical. For that, public-private collaboration must become more transparent and consistent. Innovation in defence can't exist in isolation; it needs structured support.

You recently invested in California-based Vantage Robotics. What does that partnership bring to ideaForge?

This is a strategic alignment that allows both companies to pool technological strengths. Together, we aim to co-develop next-gen nano and micro drones for defence and enterprise use. The total addressable market here is around $1 billion.