Chennai: A Chennai-based drone manufacturer, ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies, has supplied over 500 indigenously built unmanned aerial vehicles to the Indian Army over the past three months. The company described it as a milestone for domestically produced, cybersecurity-hardened defence equipment.
The drones - from ZUPPA’s 'Ajeet' series - carry certification from the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate, a government body under the ministry of electronics and information technology that tests products against defined security and reliability benchmarks.
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The army’s cybersecurity framework for unmanned systems draws on similar vulnerability criteria used to assess CCTV cameras after several high-profile hacking incidents in recent years exposed weaknesses in networked surveillance hardware.
The significance of the certification extends beyond paperwork. Drones operating in electronically contested environments are vulnerable to signal jamming, GPS spoofing and command-link hijacking - threats that have been demonstrated repeatedly in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where low-cost commercial drones have been repurposed for reconnaissance and strike missions.
India, which shares two active and contested land borders, has been accelerating efforts to field unmanned systems that cannot be easily neutralized or co-opted by adversaries.
“As drones become integral to modern defence strategies, cybersecurity is no longer optional - it is mission-critical,” said the founder and managing director of ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies, Sai Pattabiram.
“With the increasing weaponization of drones, ensuring cyber-secure unmanned systems is essential for safeguarding operations. Our focus has been on building indigenous platforms that are not only high-performing but also resilient, secure, and trusted for deployment in contested, electronically saturated operational environments.”
Beyond delivery of hardware, ZUPPA said it has conducted training for army personnel in the operation of the Ajeet drones both individually and in coordinated swarm formations, using its proprietary 'Aatmanirbhar Swarm' software.
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Swarm capability - enabling multiple drones to operate in formation under centralized or semi-autonomous control - is regarded by defence analysts as a force-multiplier in contested terrain, and has become a focus area for several armies following its battlefield use in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ajeet series is designed and manufactured in India, in line with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to reduce the armed forces’ dependence on imported defence equipment.
ZUPPA said its manufacturing processes are aligned with the AS9100 aerospace and defence quality standard - an internationally recognized framework that covers product safety, risk management and process controls, and is used by major aerospace suppliers worldwide.
India’s defence ministry has in recent years tightened procurement rules around drone imports, banning a clutch of countries from the supply chain and placing cybersecurity compliance at the centre of procurement criteria.
The move has opened space for domestic manufacturers, though the sector remains nascent and faces challenges in matching the scale and price points of established international suppliers.
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ZUPPA did not disclose the financial value of the contract with the army, nor the specific variant of the Ajeet series delivered.
The Ajeet Series – Key Variants
ZUPPA's primary drones include the Hawk, Scout, Eagle, and Ajeet Mini, designed for surveillance, mapping, and reconnaissance.
They can carry and drop payloads with precision guidance software, while maintaining a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and fully indigenous development.
Ajeet Mini
The Ajeet Mini is claimed to be India's only indigenous micro-armed drone validated by the Indian Army at high-altitude zones above 11,000 feet.
Powered by ZUPPA's proprietary NavGati autopilot system, it offers a secure and scalable alternative to foreign-origin drones.
Ajeet Baza Nano
The Ajeet Baza Nano is a micro-category UAV currently undergoing field trials.
Unlike the Mini variant, the Nano edition emphasizes even greater portability, with an all-up weight under 1 kg, making it ideal for infantry and special forces deployment.
Its proprietary autopilot system ensures stable flight in challenging winds and altitudes exceeding 4,000 metres, with early results showing flight times surpassing 45 minutes while carrying EO/IR payloads for day-night reconnaissance.
Operational Use
The Hawk, Scout, and Eagle drones were deployed during Operation Sindoor, where the Indian defence forces used them for early warning, monitoring enemy movements, and assessing potential attacks.
The Hawk drone played a key role in giving troops the ability to monitor up to 2 km inside enemy territory along the Line of Control.
