Introduction: India’s Drone Vanguard
Ankit Mehta, CEO and co‑founder of ideaForge Technology, has positioned his firm as a leader in India’s drone sector by developing nearly the entire technology stack in‑house. This article explores his journey, key milestones, and why ideaForge is critical to India’s drone dominance.
Building the Tech Stack Locally
Mehta emphasizes that ideaForge designs and manufactures almost all core components—hardware, software, sensors—internally. This vertical integration ensures tighter quality control, faster innovation, and minimized dependency on foreign suppliers 0.
Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Deployment
ideaForge drones were deployed in “Operation Sindoor” by Indian defence forces—a turning point signaling trust in domestic unmanned aerial systems for critical missions 1.
Key Timelines & Milestones
• 2021–2023: ideaForge scales operations amid rising defence demand.
• 2025: Public discussions, including CNBC‑TV18 interviews, spotlight export ambitions and global expansion goals 2.
Global Expansion Plans
Ankit Mehta reveals that post successful domestic deployments, ideaForge is setting its sights overseas—exploring markets in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The aim: to position India as a global drone supplier rather than just a consumer 3.
Why This Matters: India’s Drone Ecosystem
In context of India’s evolving drone policy and defence needs, ideaForge’s in-house model offers self‑reliance—a strategic advantage under initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat. Mehta’s vision aligns with national priorities in indigenous high‑tech production 4.
Trivia & Quiz Insights
- Name origin: “ideaForge” reflects innovation (‘idea’) and creation (‘forge’), symbolizing design‑to‑manufacture in India.
- Operation Sindoor: First large‑scale deployment of Indian-designed drones in a tactical operation.
- Tech autonomy: ideaForge’s near-full-stack development includes proprietary flight controllers, payload integration, and ground control stations.
Takeaway: Tech, Trust & Trajectory
Ankit Mehta’s strategy reflects more than business growth—it charts a course for India’s drone industry to be globally resilient. ideaForge’s domestically engineered drones, deployed in critical operations and positioned for global markets, showcase how innovation paired with sovereignty can drive leadership.
Source: Cnbctv18