SYNOPSIS
ideaForge Technology Inc. has shattered the ceiling for Indian defence manufacturing, aggressively pivoting from domestic dominance to high-stakes competition in the American airspace. By securing a critical joint venture with First Breach Inc. and leveraging a sophisticated “dual-use” engineering doctrine, the Navi Mumbai-based firm successfully bypassed traditional barriers to entry for non-NATO defence contractors. This report details how a hardware-first startup maneuvered through rigorous NDAA compliance to challenge entrenched incumbents in the global tactical UAV market.
LEAD REPORT
MUMBAI / WASHINGTON D.C. , The narrative of Indian defence exports shifted dramatically this week. ideaForge Technology, the subcontinent’s largest unmanned aerial systems (UAS) manufacturer, confirmed extensive operational details regarding its new US-centric entity, First Forge Technology Inc.
Formed in September 2025 as a 50-50 joint venture with American defence logistics firm First Breach Inc., the entity operationalizes ideaForge’s ambitious “Make in India, Fly in America” strategy. This infrastructure allows ideaForge to license, manufacture, and distribute its flagship SWITCH and NETRA series drones directly within the United States, effectively circumventing complex import frictions that often stifle foreign defence technology.
The move follows a blistering operational tempo in late 2025. In November, the Indian Army awarded ideaForge contracts totalling ₹100 crore ($11.8 million) for the battle-proven SWITCH V2 and the newly deployed ZOLT tactical UAV. These domestic wins provided the capital backbone for the company’s aggressive western expansion.
“We are not just exporting hardware; we are exporting a doctrine of high-altitude reliability,” said Ankit Mehta, CEO of ideaForge, during a briefing on the venture’s operational roadmap.
The stakes are high. As of February 2026, ideaForge ranks third globally in the dual-use drone category. Their systems have logged over 850,000 flights, a data set that rivals top-tier American aerospace firms. The company’s entry into the US market is not merely a sales pitch; it is a direct challenge to the supremacy of Chinese-made DJI platforms and expensive American alternatives.
ENGINEERING THE “CHINA-FREE” SUPPLY CHAIN
The core of ideaForge’s global viability lies in a single, rigorous acronym: NDAA (National Defence Authorization Act). For a foreign drone maker to sell to the US Department of Defence, it must strip every circuit board of components from “countries of concern.”
ideaForge anticipated this geopolitical fracture years ago.
Technical breakdowns of the SWITCH UAV reveal a deliberate architectural choice. The platform features a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hybrid design that transitions to fixed-wing flight for endurance. It offers a flight time of over 120 minutes and an operational range of 15 kilometres. Crucially, its avionics stack is indigenous. The autopilot, communication links, and power management systems are designed in Navi Mumbai, decoupling the platform from Shenzhen’s electronic ecosystem.
THE VANTAGE POINT
The strategy deepened in early 2025 with a strategic partnership with Silicon Valley-based Vantage Robotics. This deal creates a symbiotic manufacturing loop: ideaForge’s AS9100:D certified facility in India creates economies of scale for Vantage’s “Blue sUAS” certified nano-drones, while Vantage provides ideaForge a vetted channel into US federal procurement.
TACTICAL SPECS & DATA
- SWITCH V2: Engineered for high-altitude operations, capable of launching at 4,000 meters AMSL (Above Mean Sea Level). This metric is critical for operations in the Himalayas and, theoretically, the Rockies or Afghan highlands.
- ZOLT: A tactical multi-role platform introduced in 2025. It integrates precision payload delivery with ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities. It operates in GNSS-denied environments, a necessity for modern electronic warfare theatres.
Financial filings from Q3 FY26 (ended December 2025) show a company in transition. While revenue remains volatile, a hallmark of government contracting, the R&D spend is consistent. Over 70% of the drone’s sub-systems are now localized. This high localization rate protects the company from global supply chain shocks and satisfies the rigid “sovereign capability” demands of both New Delhi and Washington.
ideaForge faces a critical test in 2026. The formation of First Forge Technology Inc. resolves the legal mechanics of market entry, but the operational challenge remains. The company must now prove its logistics chain can support US clients with the same speed as domestic competitors.
The joint venture with First Breach mitigates this risk by localizing assembly and support. If successful, this model could become the template for India’s burgeoning defence tech sector.
Strategically, the ZOLT and SWITCH platforms fill a “mid-tier” gap in the global market: sophisticated enough for military use, yet affordable enough for border patrol and police forces. As western nations scramble to replace Chinese fleets, ideaForge has positioned itself not as a cheap alternative, but as a battle-hardened peer.
“The era of Indian hardware being a budget option is over,” a defence analyst noted. “They are selling uptime in hostile terrain. That is a currency the US military understands.”
Priyanshu Gautam