BENGALURU, INDIA — May 9, 2026 : Bengaluru-based defence technology startup Zulu Defence Systems has unveiled a new multi-barrel launcher designed for the rapid deployment of loitering munitions, expanding the company’s tactical unmanned systems portfolio for modern battlefield operations.
The launcher is intended to support simultaneous or sequential launches of multiple loitering munitions, enabling coordinated swarm operations and multi-target engagement. The system is designed to provide armed forces with rapid-response strike capability while reducing the need for heavy deployment infrastructure.
Founded in October 2023 by Rajagopal Sethauram and Chief Executive Officer Nagendran Kandasamy, Zulu Defence Systems develops tactical air defence drone systems and weaponised unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions.
The company’s flagship platform, the HOVERBEE, is a palm-launched vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) micro drone that can be configured either for ISR operations or as a loitering munition. In its strike configuration, the platform replaces its surveillance payload with a 400-gram explosive warhead. The drone is designed with a low acoustic signature and supports rapid field deployment without requiring dedicated launch infrastructure.
The newly introduced multi-barrel launcher is designed to integrate with the company’s existing loitering munition platforms, including HOVERBEE and the DRAP loitering munition system. DRAP is a larger VTOL platform equipped with edge computer vision capabilities and can carry warheads weighing up to 1.5 kilograms with multiple fuse configurations for varying mission requirements.
Zulu Defence Systems also manufactures the Volume 35 weaponised unmanned aerial system, which is capable of deploying six 81-millimetre mortar shells while maintaining operational performance at higher altitudes and in varying weather conditions.
According to the company, the launcher operates in conjunction with its Advanced Air Defence Aerial Systems (AADAS), an artificial intelligence-driven software architecture that integrates ISR and precision strike data into a unified operational framework. The platform supports swarm-capable missions through autonomous flight functions, real-time collaboration, and data integration between multiple airborne assets.
The company has recently expanded production capacity at its Bengaluru manufacturing facility as it transitions several unmanned systems from prototype development to mass production. Zulu Defence stated that its tactical drone platforms have undergone field evaluations with units of the Indian Army and the Indian Navy’s Marine Commando Force (MARCOS), where the systems reportedly demonstrated favourable operational performance and were recommended for service acceptance.
To support manufacturing expansion and continued hardware development, Zulu Defence has raised approximately $987,000 through two seed funding rounds, with participation from investment firms including Finvolve.
In addition to domestic deployments, the company has also initiated exports of its tactical defence systems to select markets in Europe and the Middle East.
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