ideaForge Technology Limited is India’s leading and a pioneer in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
manufacturing for defence, homeland security, and enterprise applications. Founded in 2007
by IIT Bombay alumni Ankit Mehta, Rahul Singh, and Ashish Bhat, later joined by Vipul Joshi, the
company has been instrumental in shaping India’s UAV ecosystem. The founding team built
their first quadrotor prototype in 2004, and since then, ideaForge has grown into the country’s
pre-eminent UAV manufacturer, holding nearly 50 percent market share in FY22 (1Lattice
Report). Today, an ideaForge drone takes off every three minutes on average, with customers
completing more than 7,50,000+ successful flights for ISR missions, mapping, disaster
management, and industrial operations.
ideaForge operates as a vertically integrated original equipment manufacturer (OEM), with
end-to-end capabilities in design, development, engineering, manufacturing, testing, solutions
and DaaS. This ensures full control over product performance, reliability, and autonomy. The
company was the first in India to indigenously develop and manufacture vertical take-off and
landing UAVs in 2009. Since then, it has built a strong intellectual property base, with
91+patents filed globally, of which 51 have been granted, covering flight stability, control
systems, rotor design, and other core technologies.
The company offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive UAV portfolios for dual-use
applications. Ranked # 3 among the world’s dual use UAV manufacturers, its flagship platforms
include SWITCH, NETRA 5 , NETRA V4 PRO, Q4i, Q6, Q6 V2, , and ZOLT. These UAVs are
engineered for diverse missions, with endurance ranging from 25 to 120 minutes, operational
altitudes up to 6,000 metres, and communication ranges of 4 to 20 kilometres. Lightweight
and portable, they are designed for rapid deployment in varied terrains—from high-altitude
Himalayan zones to deserts and flood-affected regions. ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV won India’s
largest mini-VTOL UAV contract in 2022, beating competition from global players,
demonstrating the company’s product maturity and competitiveness.
Beyond hardware, ideaForge has built proprietary software and subsystems to strengthen UAV
performance. It is among the few global OEMs with its own autopilot subsystem and ground
control station software. Its platforms integrate features like AI-based people detection, target
tracking, and BlueFire Live! —a solution that enables encrypted video streaming and remote
payload control. In 2023, the company introduced ideaForge CARE, the first subscription-
based UAV support and maintenance plan in India, offering customers round-the-clock service
and replacement options.
ideaForge serves a wide base of customers across defence and civil sectors. Its UAVs are
extensively deployed by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as central armed police
forces, state police organisations, disaster management agencies, and forest departments. Civil
applications include surveying, mapping, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and logistics.
Internationally, the company’s products have achieved NATO Stock Number (NSN)
codification, opening opportunities for procurement by NATO and allied forces.
Given the critical nature of UAV missions, ideaForge maintains stringent quality standards. All
products undergo rigorous pre-flight and range testing, along with extensive environmental
trials to ensure mission readiness under extreme conditions. The company’s “mission-first”
design philosophy emphasises reliability, autonomy, and ease of operation, ensuring drones
can be deployed without extensive operator training.
The company’s leadership and innovation have earned wide
recognition. ideaForge was ranked 5th among the world’s top dual use drone manufacturers by
Drone Industry Insights in 2022 and further scaled up to 3rd position 2024. It was also awarded
“Best Aviation Startup” at Wings India 2024 and recognised by the Marico Innovation
Foundation, CNBC-TV18, Dun & Bradstreet, and The Economic Times. The Government of India
has honoured ideaForge for contributions to intellectual property development and indigenous
technology advancement.
Looking forward, ideaForge aims to expand its global footprint by deepening partnerships with
system integrators and OEMs, while continuing to invest in AI-driven autonomy, ISR solutions,
and next-generation UAV systems. With its vertically integrated model, robust IP base,
financial strength, and global recognition, ideaForge is uniquely positioned to strengthen India’s
Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission and establish itself as a trusted supplier in international defence,
aerospace supply chains and other enterprise solutions.
Ankit Mehta
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
ideaForge
Ankit Mehta is the CEO and Co-founder of ideaForge, India’s leading and pioneering drone
technology company, specializing in both defence and civil applications. An alumnus of IIT
Bombay, Ankit earned a dual degree in mechanical engineering in 2005 and co-founded ideaForge
shortly thereafter. Since its inception in 2007, Ankit has been instrumental in shaping the
company’s vision and driving its evolution into a global leader in dual-use drone manufacturing.
Under his leadership, ideaForge has earned a strong reputation for indigenously designed UAVs
that combine reliability, innovation, and world-class performance.
Guided by his vision, ideaForge was ranked 3rd among the world’s top dual use drone
manufacturers by Drone Industry Insights in 2024. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, he
remains focused on strengthening India’s position as a global hub for cutting-edge drone
technology and innovation.
Ankit and ideaForge have received numerous accolades, including recognition from the Marico
Innovation Foundation, CNBC-TV18, Dun & Bradstreet, and The Economic Times’ 40 Under Forty.
The Government of India has also honoured the company for its contributions to intellectual
property development and indigenous technology. In addition, Ankit and his fellow IITB co-
founders were awarded the Young Alumni Achiever Award by IIT Bombay.
Beyond corporate success, Ankit plays a key role in shaping India’s UAV ecosystem. As Co-Chair
of the FICCI Committee on Drones, he actively contributes to regulatory and policy development,
offering balanced and growth-oriented recommendations to support the industry’s advancement.
At his core, Ankit remains a passionate technologist and is a co-inventor on multiple patents held
by ideaForge, underscoring his commitment to innovation and deep technology.
