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The Indian Navy has inked a ₹47 crore contract with Kochi-based startup EyeROV to supply advanced underwater drones.
EyeROV makes underwater robots (drones) used for defence, research, and industrial inspections. Customers include DRDO, Indian Coast Guard, CSIR, and NCPOR.
The deets: EyeROV will deliver its Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROVs) - TROUT, tested in extreme missions including 400+ metres deep and even the Antarctic Sea.
Its TROUT model can dive 300 metres underwater and carry cameras or sensors to watch, scan, and gather data.
It’s basically a remotely operated mini-submarine designed for defence and commercial use.
Why it matters: this deal strengthens India’s defence self-reliance by replacing imported systems with homegrown underwater tech.
For the Navy, it means access to reliable, deep-sea drones built for extreme conditions. For EyeROV, it’s a breakthrough contract that validates eight years of R&D and gives it credibility for global defence exports. And for India, it’s another step in building a world-class defence startup ecosystem that can compete with established players abroad.
Zoom out: India’s underwater drone market is still young but picking up speed.
The market was valued at about $109 million in 2024 and is expected to more than triple to $310 million by 2032, growing at a fast clip of over 18% annually. Most of this comes from ROVs, which already account for around USD 70 million of the market. Globally too, the sector is surging.
The sharp growth is being driven by defence demand, offshore energy, and deep-sea projects, making India’s EyeROV–Navy deal part of a much larger wave of investment and innovation in marine robotics.
