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ideaForge Technology is joining forces with US-based First Breach to set up a joint venture in America for licensing, design, manufacturing, and distribution of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Context: the Indian drone maker is already a market leader at home, with a drone taking off every five minutes for surveillance or mapping. It recently bagged a ₹137 crore order from the Indian Army for hybrid mini UAVs.
The deets: both partners will hold 50% each in the new JV and appoint two directors apiece to the board.
The new entity will handle licensing, sourcing, design, engineering, manufacturing, and distribution of select ideaForge drones in the US. Beyond military use, the JV may also explore civilian and industrial drone applications, depending on regulatory approvals and demand.
Why it matters: for the US, partnering with ideaForge means access to battle-tested, cost-effective drones that are already flying daily missions in India. It also helps diversify America’s drone ecosystem, which has long been dominated by expensive Western players or restricted by bans on Chinese suppliers.
Zoom out: India and the US have been deepening defence ties, and drones are fast becoming a key part of that partnership.
The US drone market is worth $25.07 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow 13% annually through 2030.
For India, it’s a chance to move from buyer to co-creator. The nation is already negotiating local manufacture of US-origin V-BAT drones via tech transfer, signaling its ambition to be a global drone hub.
