The Indian military has awarded a major contract to ideaForge following tough trials that tested unmanned systems against electronic-warfare threats and rugged terrain. The contract, worth nearly 1 billion rupees (around $11.3 million), includes deliveries of the company’s advanced Zolt tactical drone and the trusted SWITCH 2 VTOL UAV under an emergency acquisition program.
ideaForge revealed that the Zolt UAV accounted for approximately 750 million rupees ($8.5 million) of the total contract value. Evaluations placed the drone in heavily jammed zones and high-altitude regions, where it demonstrated strong performance and robust endurance. Meanwhile, SWITCH 2 received a fresh 300-million-rupee ($3.39 million) order to expand its deployment in frontline operations.
Analysts believe the acquisition aligns with India’s push to modernize its ISR assets and improve precision delivery capabilities across border sectors frequently exposed to hostile jamming and surveillance challenges. Zolt’s design supports extended-range missions, real-time situational awareness, and payload versatility critical for tactical operations.
ideaForge has been rapidly increasing its presence in India’s security ecosystem. A key milestone came in June 2025, when it secured a 1.37-billion-rupee government order for mini unmanned systems. These VTOL drones are scheduled for delivery within 12 months. The company’s UAVs also serve in non-military roles with the NDRF, various police forces, and regulatory authorities for tasks such as infrastructure inspection, search and rescue, and high-precision mapping.
