In India, aerospace and defence is one of the most important sectors of the country, which accounts for almost 1.6 per cent of the national GDP. According to a recent report by consultancy firm Maier+Vidorno, the aerospace and defence industry in India is estimated to reach around $70 billion by 2030.
The report stated that a huge portion of the Indian defence needs is, however, fulfilled via imports. As the country strives to become aatmanirbhar or self-reliant, the government has been pushing innovators to come up with cutting-edge Made in India technology to empower the defence sector.
Last August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed up the need for local defence manufacturing. And playing a major role to fulfil this mission is the Indian startup ecosystem. In 2018, the Ministry of Defence earmarked Rs 500 crore to encourage MSMEs and startups through its Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
Then, in 2019, the government announced its plans to fund at least 250 defence startups over the next five years. Several startups have been developing technologies to help the armed forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). According to government data, India has around 194 startups in the defence tech space.
Top tech startups working to support and empower India’s defence efforts:
EyeROV
Kochi-based EyeROV is working towards enabling efficient underwater inspection with its marine robotic solutions and solve problems for several industries, such as defence, ocean research organisations, shipping, oil and gas, infrastructure, and construction.
The startup’s first industrial-grade underwater drone EyeROV Tuna was commercially launched in 2018. It claims the 50cm X 50cm X 50 cm cube-shaped ROV has completed more than 1,000 hours of underwater inspection of dams, bridges, ports, ship hulls, oil and gas assets, and other critical underwater structures across 25 projects in five states.
EyeROV, which won the iDEX Defense India Startup Challenge in 2019, onboarded Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as its first customer. Backed by Maker Village Kochi, Kerala Startup Mission, and GAIL, the startup has completed over 15 pilot projects for Adani Power, Coastal Police, BSF, Kerala Fire and Rescue, Kerala Police, and Assam Fire and Rescue.
Optimized Electrotech
Ahmedabad-based Optimized Electrotech, which was also one of the winners of the iDEX Defence India Startup Challenge in 2019, is solving surveillance-related challenges with its long-distance imaging systems.
The startup’s first line of product, deployed for border surveillance, the InfiVision series has been designed to detect a tank in more than 30km range. Its MistVision series provides a long-range electro-optics system for fog penetration while its ClearVision series helps in high spectral-range surveillance in all weather conditions. The NoctVision series is designed to perform surveillance at night.
They work with Homeland Security (MHA) and Defence (MOD). Their products are useful for CISF to guard strategic assets; for BSF, ITBP, AR, and Coast Guard to keep a watchful eye on trespassing at borders; for CRPF and all Central and State Police forces for better law implementation within cities, and finally Army, IAF and Navy for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance).
ideaForge
Mumbai-based ideaForge is not a new name in the defence and surveillance sector. The drone startup, which claims to have over 90 per cent of market share in the security and surveillance segment, was founded in 2007 by IIT Mumbai alumni Ankit Mehta, Rahul Singh, Vipul Joshi, and Ashish Bhat.
The drones built by ideaForge have been deployed by the Indian Armed Forces, central armed police forces, and state police forces. It also has industrial customers in geospatial surveying, oil and gas, mining sectors.
Earlier this month, the startup bagged a $20 million contract from the Indian Army for the delivery of its high-altitude variant product – Switch Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
According to the company, Switch UAV is an indigenous system developed to cater to the most demanding surveillance operations of the Indian Armed Forces. The Fixed-Wing VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) UAV has been designed to be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Apart from helping the armed forces for defence, the startup has also been trying to fight the current COVID-19 situation. In April, it joined hands with police forces in Sangli (Maharashtra) and Guwahati (Assam) to deploy its drones for surveillance and monitoring COVID-19 social distancing norms during the lockdown.
Vinveli
Iowa Chennai-based Vinveli is building indigenous UAVs or drones for Special Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, such as the National Security Guard and the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Ministry of Defence.
The Iowa Startup Accelerator-backed startup has been manufacturing and supplying drones to India’s Special Forces since 2016. Its clientele also includes the National Security Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, and the Ministry of Defence.
Vinveli also has two Indian patents. According to the startup, its launcher and firing systems are completely indigenously designed and manufactured and the raw materials are also procured locally.
Nyokas Technologies
Kochi-based Nyokas Technologies, which was also one of the winners of iDEX 2019, is an ultra-smart clothing startup. It is involved in building individual protection systems or body armour through an amalgamation of nano-materials, textiles, electronics, and software.
It has also developed a wearable jacket Zeal to empower civilians to protect themselves from assault or life-threatening situations.
According to the startup, it is aimed at developing an ecosystem for high-tech clothes in India through nano-science and fashion technology.
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