~ Advancing Deployment of Di1-powered AI Drones from ideaForge and Expanding its Distribution in the Japanese Market ~
Mumbai, 28th April 2026: ideaForge Technology Limited, India’s leading drone technology player, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Digital Media Professionals Inc. (DMP), a leading AI technology provider in Japan. Under this partnership, ideaForge will develop next-generation Di1-powered AI drones and enter the Japanese market with DMP’s support, marking a major step forward for India’s deep-tech global expansion.
As the global drone market surges from USD 54.9 billion in 2024 to USD 117.6 billion by 2030, Japan’s market is slated to grow from USD 2.0 billion in 2025 to USD 5.1 billion by 2034. To enable this growth Edge AI is critical for drone-based autonomous solutions in defence, security & industrial applications. The Di1 edge AI SoC from DMP has FP4-based NPU for high-performance, low-power, 4-channel camera for 360-degree vision, and strong imagery, which works in tandem with ideaForge’s rugged, secure, autonomous, and resilient field-proven VTOL drones to perform robust autonomous flight in severe environments and complex terrains. Together, ideaForge’s UAS end-to-end expertise and DMP’s Physical AI arm bring smarter and safer autonomous systems for accelerated adoption.
The partnership is focused on two key areas where ideaForge will provide the Di1 integration in its UAV platforms to enable new features, and DMP will be the Go To Market (GTM) partner for ideaForge’s drone solutions portfolio in Japan, enabling demonstrations, customer outreach, distribution, training, and after sales support.
On this occasion Mr. Ankit Mehta, CEO and Co-founder, ideaForge Technology Ltd said, “Our vision at ideaForge is to build next-generation intelligent unmanned aircraft systems by seamlessly integrating advanced design, engineering, manufacturing capabilities, and cutting-edge AI technologies. This collaboration with DMP aligns perfectly with our broader strategy to develop high-performance, customizable AI for defence autonomy drones that efficiently address diverse global market needs—from defense surveillance and border security to industrial infrastructure inspection and precision agriculture. Through this collaboration, we would be able to leverage DMP’s strong presence and understanding of the Japanese market to accelerate our global expansion initiatives and will provide smarter, more efficient, and sustainable autonomous drone systems that deliver real-time decision-making, extended endurance, and unmatched reliability in the most demanding environments.”
Tatsuo Yamamoto, Chairman, President & CEO, Digital Media Professionals Inc., added: “We are thrilled to partner with ideaForge, a global leader in mission-critical drones, to integrate our Di1 edge AI SoC into their next-generation UAV platforms. This MOU accelerates Di1’s accelerated deployment while enabling DMP to bring ideaForge’s rugged, high-endurance, and resilient drones to Japan’s defence, security, and industrial markets. We will work together to create Physical AI-powered solutions that change the way drones operate in terms of safety, accuracy, and independence.”
This collaboration is a critical milestone in the global expansion of ideaForge, leveraging Indian deep-tech innovation and Japanese AI expertise to create mission-critical defence, security, and industrial drones for the Japanese market. ideaForge already has an established presence in the United States through its joint venture, First Forge Technology,
focused on manufacturing and distribution in the region. By creating a flexible framework for joint development and market entry, the two companies are poised to capitalize on high-growth opportunities while pioneering sustainable, autonomous aviation technologies that transform resilience and efficiency in operations.
About ideaForge Technology Limited
ideaForge is a pioneer and the pre-eminent market leader in the Indian unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. With a mission-first approach, we deliver cutting-edge drones engineered for unmatched performance, autonomy, and reliability, redefining possibilities in security, mapping, surveillance, and disaster response applications across militaries and enterprises.
With India’s largest operational deployment of indigenous UAVs, an ideaForge drone takes off every 3 minutes, enabling over 9,50,000 successful flights. Ranked 3rd globally among the world’s Top Dual-Use Drone Manufacturers by Drone Industry Insights (DRONEII) Global Drone Review 2024, ideaForge continues to set benchmarks in innovation and excellence.
Since pioneering India’s first VTOL UAVs in 2009, we have expanded with advanced R&D and manufacturing hubs in Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and the USA, driving the development of indigenously designed and built solutions. Backed by marquee investors, including Qualcomm, Infosys, Celesta Capital, Florintree, EXIM Bank, and Infina Finance, ideaForge is at the forefront of revolutionising unmanned systems.
