India's Top 5 Defence Startups (2025)

"Rise of India's Defence Sector":    • The Real Reason India's Defence Exports Gr...   00:00 Intro 02:10 NewSpace Research and Technologies 04:18 Tonbo Imaging 06:16 Big Bang Boom Solutions 07:58 EyeROV 09:28 Optimized Electrotech The United States has long maintained its military superiority through a unique system where government and private entities collaborate on defense innovation. This model, where initial government funding fuels private sector competition and development, enables the US to build cutting-edge weaponry like the B-2 Spirit bomber and GBU-57 bunker busters, ensuring national security without relying on foreign imports. For decades, India, in contrast, was heavily dependent on other countries for its defense needs. However, in the last ten years, India has made significant strides towards self-reliance in defense. Initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) provide crucial grants (ranging from ₹1.5 crore to ₹25 crore) to startups, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for defense technology development. This video highlights five such Indian startups that are revolutionizing the nation's military capabilities: 1. NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT) Founded by former Indian Air Force officer Sameer Joshi, NRT is at the forefront of drone technology, considered the future of warfare. Their expertise in understanding military requirements has led to breakthroughs like the AI-driven swarm drones used in "Operation Sindoor" to overwhelm enemy air defenses. NRT is also developing Abhimanyu, a "loyal wingman" drone that operates autonomously alongside manned aircraft, providing real-time intelligence and threat detection. Furthermore, they are pioneers in India for High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), solar-powered systems that offer long-duration surveillance from 20 km above Earth, with the Indian Navy already investing in them for naval surveillance. NRT's success is largely attributed to government grants from iDEX and DRDO's TDF scheme. 2. Tonbo Imaging This Bengaluru-based startup played a crucial role in the 2016 Uri Surgical Strikes, providing the Indian Army with advanced night vision goggles and thermal imaging solutions. Founded by Arvind Lakshmikumar, known as "India's Ironman" for his passion for defense tech, Tonbo Imaging initially found traction with the US Army before gaining recognition in India. Their products, which give soldiers "dragonfly-like" vision, include Thermal Imagers & Night Vision Systems (like the HawkVision series), Weapon Sights (like COBRA and Spartan), advanced missile systems that act as the "eyes and brains" of missiles, and Vehicle-Mounted & Platform-Based Systems like PHOTON DVE, enhancing visibility for armored vehicles. 3. Big Bang Boom Solutions Established in 2018 by deep tech entrepreneurs Dr. Shivaraman Ramaswamy and Praveen Dwarakanath, this Chennai-based company has become a standout success of the iDEX scheme. Starting with ₹1.5 crore grants for "see-through armor," they've since secured a ₹200 crore contract from the defense ministry for their flagship Vajra Sentinel System, an anti-drone defense system capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and neutralizing enemy drones. This system was extensively used in "Operation Sindoor." They also developed a handheld anti-drone gun and Yudhikshana, a 360-degree optics system with multiple cameras and augmented reality for armored vehicles, offering enhanced battlefield awareness. 4. EyeROV Founded by IITians Johns T Mathai and Kannappa Palaniappan, Kochi-based EyeROV addresses India's need for indigenous underwater inspection and surveillance solutions. In 2017, they launched EyeROV TUNA, India's first commercial underwater drone, capable of inspecting dams, bridges, and ship hulls up to 100 meters. Their stronger version, EyeROV Trout, can reach 300 meters underwater with dual 4K cameras and 10x optical zoom. EyeROV also develops Autonomous Surface Vehicles like the iBoat Alpha for surface-level surveys and provides specialized software for in-depth underwater analysis. 5. Optimized Electrotech This Bengaluru-based company, founded by former ISRO scientists Sandeep Shah and Kuldeep Kumar Saxena, specializes in advanced electro-optic surveillance systems. Recognizing India's reliance on imported surveillance tech, they developed Noctvision, a flagship product offering 24/7 surveillance in all weather conditions, including darkness, fog, and rain. Noctvision features face recognition and threat detection (e.g., identifying individuals carrying guns) and is deployed by various Indian forces, including the army, BSF, CRPF, CISF, and state police. Disclaimer: This channel is a part of Zerodha's Zero1 Network. Zero1 by Zerodha financially supports creators and storytellers through its network. The views and opinions in this video are solely those of the creator and are not endorsed by Zero1.