IG Drones – FPV Striker
IG Drones Uttar Pradesh is at the center of India’s growing push for self-reliance in defense technology. The global drone market was valued at approximately $27.7 billion in 2023, with the military and government sector accounting for about $14.1 billion of that total. While drones are used across commercial, agricultural, and recreational industries, defense applications still account for a significant share of overall spending. The United States leads the world in military drone development and deployment, supported by ongoing investment in reconnaissance, combat, and logistics systems. North America held roughly 36% of the global military drone market in 2023, with the United States alone representing an estimated 30% to 40% of worldwide military drone activity.
Countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are rapidly expanding their defense programs to reduce reliance on foreign technology and strengthen national security. Nations such as China, Turkey, and Israel have made significant advances in drone production, developing indigenous platforms for surveillance and combat operations. This global push for self-sufficiency is reshaping defense strategies and fueling new competition in military drone innovation.
IG Drones Uttar Pradesh Partnership With UP Defence Corridor
For many years, India relied on imported drones to support its military operations. Over the past decade, as technology has advanced and costs have declined, the country has made a concerted effort to strengthen its domestic drone capabilities. On October 10, 2025, IG Drones signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a manufacturing and research facility within the UP Defence Corridor. This facility is expected to become a strategic hub for indigenous drone development and production, with the state government providing support in regulatory approvals, permissions, and incentives. The move is intended to drive technology advancement, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imports.
Based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IG Drones is a defense-tech company founded in 2018 by a team of engineering graduates from the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) in Odisha. The company has a track record of supplying unmanned systems to the Indian armed forces, including vertical takeoff and landing drones, FPV (first-person view) systems, and kamikaze platforms.
“The demand for indigenous FPV drones is surging globally, and India must seize this moment,” said Major General Ramesh C. Padhi, Senior Vice President of R&D at IG Drones. “Our upcoming facility will play a pivotal role in ensuring that production is scaled up to meet national security requirements.”
Mass Production at IG Drones Uttar Pradesh Facility
Great News
Drone startup, IG Drones, to establish cutting-edge drone manufacturing and R&D facility in UP Defence Corridor.
This facility will initially manufacture 1,00,000 armoured FPV Striker Drones annually.
Location is yet to be confirmed ~ should come up in… pic.twitter.com/rbY8NUWy04
— The Uttar Pradesh Index (@theupindex) October 10, 2025
The company plans to produce 100,000 units of its FPV Striker drone annually at the new site, signaling the scale of its ambitions. The FPV Striker is one of IG Drones’ flagship tactical platforms. In trials with the Indian Army, it demonstrated a cruising speed of 140 km/h, a flight endurance of 30 minutes, and an operational range of 4 km. The drone is optimized for rapid deployment, precision payload delivery, and stealthy operation. It can carry a payload of around 1 kg and includes a quiet mode of flight to reduce detectability. As IG Drones notes on its official site, the Striker is built “for battlefield dominance,” blending agility, real-time control, and strike capability in a compact form.
Expanding India’s Drone Defense Capabilities
This expansion comes at a moment of rising geostrategic pressures. Trends in drone warfare are accelerating global demand for low-cost tactical unmanned platforms. India recently announced a $234 million incentive program aimed at boosting domestic drone manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign imports. That policy support aligns with private sector efforts such as IG Drones Uttar Pradesh expansion. “This MoU is not just an agreement, it is a commitment to India’s self-reliance in defence technology,” said Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO of IG Drones.
“Our new facility will serve as a hub of innovation, manufacturing, and employment, ensuring that next-generation indigenous drones are available for our armed forces and allies.” – Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO of IG Drones.
With the UP site, IG Drones Uttar Pradesh aims to scale not just national supply but also export potential, reaching countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. India is shifting from buyer to builder, with aspirations to become a supplier in the future.
The new IG Drones Uttar Pradesh facility reflects a strategic bet that mass manufacturing, combined with innovation in FPV and kamikaze systems, can tilt the balance in India’s favor. In the years ahead, the performance of platforms like the Striker, their reliability under combat stress, and their integration into command-and-control networks will define how far India can close the gap with the world’s drone leaders.
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