Is India the next hot spot for unmanned business?

Ankit Mehta is Co-founder & CEO of ideaForge, India's largest manufacturer of drones for defense, homeland security and industrial applications. IdeaForge was founded in 2007, with a mission to bring cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems to these industries. Over the past decade, the company has emerged as a leader in the Indian drone industry, with a focus on innovation, reliability, and safety.

IdeaForge is a pioneer in the UAV industry and has multiple IPs to its credit. One of the key factors that sets Ideaforge apart from its competitors is its focus on indigenous design and development. The company's drones are designed and manufactured entirely in India, which has helped it to establish a strong foothold in the domestic market while also making it an attractive partner for global clients.

At ideaForge, Ankit is leading the charge to deliver cutting-edge technology that is Made-in-India and second to none. One of those innovations is the SWITCH UAV, a first of its kind VTOL and fixed wing hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. SWITCH features advanced flight time, higher safety and simple operation with additional fail-safe redundancies. It is used for long duration operations, long endurance surveillance and security, inspection and photogrammetry. It is so good, the Indian Army selected the Switch above all others to strengthen its unmanned presence.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Ankit talks Ideaforge's journey, its approach to innovation and R&D, and its vision for the future of drones in India and beyond. We'll also discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing the Indian drone industry, and the role that Ideaforge hopes to play in shaping its growth and development.