Indian Army Places ₹105-Crore Order for ideaForge’s New ZOLT and SWITCH V2 Drones

In a significant boost to India’s indigenous drone ecosystem, ideaForge Technology Limited has secured a major Capital Emergency Procurement order from the Indian Army, comprising its latest ZOLT Tactical UAV worth ₹75 crore and an additional ₹30-crore order for the high-performance VTOL Hybrid SWITCH V2 unmanned aerial system. The combined value of the contract stands at approximately ₹105 crore, marking one of the largest recent procurements of Indian-made UAVs.

The order is the culmination of months of rigorous field evaluations, including Electronic Warfare (EW) trials, performance checks in GNSS-denied scenarios, and stringent assessments of the country of origin — a priority for the Army amid rising demand for trusted and secure platforms.

ZOLT: India’s New Multi-Role Tactical Workhorse

Unveiled earlier this year at Aero India, the ZOLT Tactical UAV is ideaForge’s newest next-generation platform, designed specifically for modern battlefield requirements. The system is purpose-built for long-range ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), precision payload delivery, and autonomous operations in complex combat zones.

The Army’s choice signals growing reliance on platforms that can withstand high-threat, high-altitude, and signal-contested environments, where ZOLT has demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Key capabilities include:

• Advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM)

• Autonomous operation in GNSS-denied conditions

• Robust anti-jamming features

• High-endurance surveillance payloads

• Secure communication links for contested battlefields

ideaForge describes ZOLT as a “future-ready ISR asset” engineered to operate even under aggressive EW interference, radar exposure, and communication disruption.

SWITCH V2: Battle-Tested VTOL UAV Gets Fresh Induction

The order also includes the SWITCH V2, a hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone that has already been deployed in multiple forward areas. Known for its all-terrain versatility, SWITCH V2 combines fixed-wing endurance with rotor-driven mobility, allowing rapid deployment from rugged Himalayan terrain to dense border zones.

The platform has been widely appreciated for:

• High-altitude performance

• Long-endurance ISR missions

• Quick setup for frontline deployment

• Proven combat reliability in active conflict environments

Given its operational history, the additional order reflects the Army’s continued confidence in the drone’s battlefield utility.

A Milestone for Indian Drone Manufacturing

ideaForge co-founder and CEO Ankit Mehta said the procurement reflects the Army’s trust in the company’s innovation-focused ecosystem.
“This order underscores our commitment to delivering best-in-class systems to our soldiers and creating long-term value for our shareholders while actively shaping the future of this technology,” he stated.

ideaForge has emerged as one of India’s most successful defence UAV manufacturers, with multiple products already inducted into the armed forces and paramilitary services. The company continues to expand its manufacturing footprint and R&D investments, especially in autonomy, secure communication systems, advanced AI-enabled payloads, and EW-resilient navigation technologies.

Strategic Impact and Future Outlook

The procurement aligns with India’s urgent push for indigenization in defence technologies, especially unmanned systems that can operate in the shadow of electronic warfare threats — a defining feature of modern conflicts from Ukraine to West Asia.

With escalating tensions across diverse frontlines, including the northern borders, the Army’s focus is shifting toward persistent ISR, real-time threat monitoring, and precision force protection, areas where platforms like ZOLT and SWITCH V2 offer substantial advantages.

The new order not only strengthens the Army’s tactical ISR capabilities but also reinforces India’s ambition to become a global drone technology hub, driven by deep-tech manufacturers like ideaForge.