India’s growing defence technology ecosystem witnessed a significant boost this week. Vayudh, a homegrown defence tech startup, raised $10 million in a fresh funding round led by Dharana Capital. The round also brought in heavyweight investors including Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, Action TESA MD Ajay Aggarwal, Sumit Jalan, LetsVenture, and Navam Capital. Florintree Advisors, an early investor in the company, had previously backed the startup.
Vayudh’s leadership team confirmed that the company will deploy the fresh capital to scale research and development, expand its manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate deployment of its UAV systems for the Indian armed forces. The founders aim to position Vayudh as a global leader in drone warfare systems, built indigenously and aligned with India’s growing defence requirements.
Building India’s Defence Tech Backbone
Since its inception in 2016, Vayudh has focused exclusively on developing battlefield-ready drone platforms. Founders Tanmay Bunkar, Anuj Barnwal, and Sarita Ahlawat envisioned a future where Indian forces could rely on intelligent, autonomous drone systems for modern warfare. They built the startup from the ground up, emphasizing indigenous research and rigorous testing protocols.
The startup’s commitment to autonomy and real-world performance has allowed it to clock over 300,000 autonomous flying hours—a major benchmark in the global drone industry. This milestone underscores the robustness of Vayudh’s platforms and the company’s ability to deliver scalable solutions for real-time military operations.
Swarm Tech and Nano Drones: Vayudh’s Specialties
Vayudh’s strength lies in its focus on cutting-edge technologies such as swarm drones and nano UAVs. Over the years, the team has developed and fine-tuned swarm drone capabilities that enable multiple UAVs to work together during operations. This technology offers Indian defence forces a strategic edge in hostile environments, where traditional reconnaissance methods often fall short.
In 2023, the company secured the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) grant from the Ministry of Defence. The government awarded this grant to Vayudh to develop the smallest surveillance drone ever designed in India. The initiative forms part of India’s broader push to empower startups under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission.
This project culminated in the launch of Atri, a nano surveillance drone that combines stealth, agility, and advanced AI capabilities in a compact form. Atri can operate in tight urban environments, navigate through dense terrain, and transmit high-quality live intelligence to ground control in real-time. Its lightweight design and modular architecture make it ideal for special forces and high-risk tactical missions.
Strategic Investors Signal Confidence in Vayudh’s Vision
The latest funding round has not only strengthened Vayudh’s war chest but also validated its long-term vision. Dharana Capital led the round with strong conviction in Vayudh’s potential to disrupt global defence systems. Deepinder Goyal, one of India’s most successful tech entrepreneurs, joined the round to back deep-tech innovation for national security. His involvement reflects a growing interest among India’s tech leaders in the country’s strategic autonomy and indigenous capability-building.
Ajay Aggarwal, MD of Action TESA, and Sumit Jalan also contributed to the round, signaling a diversified investor base that spans manufacturing, capital markets, and entrepreneurship. LetsVenture and Navam Capital, known for nurturing early-stage tech startups, added further credibility to the round.
Florintree Advisors, an early backer of Vayudh, had already spotted the startup’s potential during its formative years. Their continued support indicates that Vayudh has consistently delivered on key technological milestones.
Scaling Up for the Next Phase
The Vayudh team plans to utilize the capital infusion for three primary objectives: deepening its R&D efforts, expanding drone manufacturing units, and deploying systems to support Indian defence missions at scale.
In the R&D space, Vayudh intends to invest in advanced simulation environments, real-time drone decision-making frameworks, and high-speed data analytics systems. The company will also focus on AI-based threat detection and autonomous navigation systems to boost battlefield effectiveness.
On the manufacturing side, Vayudh will expand its current facilities to build drones at a larger scale. The startup manufactures and tests all its platforms in India. This approach allows it to retain full control over quality, confidentiality, and performance metrics. By increasing production capacity, Vayudh aims to meet growing demand from India’s Army, Navy, and paramilitary forces.
Deployment remains the most mission-critical priority. Vayudh has already conducted multiple field trials with defence units across India. With the new funding, it will accelerate deployment cycles, enhance post-deployment support, and tailor drone modules to specific use cases such as border surveillance, anti-infiltration missions, and disaster response.
Transforming Warfare with Smart Eyes in the Sky
The modern battlefield demands speed, precision, and intelligence. Vayudh understands this need and delivers unmanned aerial platforms that can think, adapt, and act in real-time. Unlike conventional UAV systems that depend heavily on remote operators, Vayudh’s drones come equipped with on-board AI, capable of making split-second decisions during critical missions.
Its swarm drone systems allow for distributed reconnaissance, where dozens of UAVs can cover vast regions simultaneously, avoiding overlap and maximizing intelligence-gathering. These drones can communicate with each other, share terrain data, and respond to changing battlefield conditions autonomously.
Atri, the nano drone, adds another dimension to this capability. Units can carry Atri into high-risk zones, deploy it within seconds, and receive live visuals of hostile territory—all without detection. Atri also supports night vision, terrain mapping, and silent operation, making it an indispensable tool for special operations teams.
A Startup with National Importance
India’s defence sector stands at a pivotal moment. Global geopolitical shifts, regional threats, and new-age warfare tactics have compelled the country to modernize its defence apparatus. Indigenous startups like Vayudh play a critical role in this transformation. They build solutions tailored to Indian terrains, doctrines, and strategic objectives.
Vayudh also contributes to India’s long-term self-reliance goals. By designing, manufacturing, and testing drones within the country, the startup reduces dependence on foreign vendors. More importantly, it creates jobs, upskills engineers, and builds an ecosystem of defence innovation.
What Lies Ahead
With $10 million in fresh funding, strong investor confidence, and proven technological credentials, Vayudh now stands at the cusp of its most impactful chapter. The startup plans to expand its presence across India, partner with DRDO and armed forces for specialized projects, and possibly explore global defence contracts in the future.
The founders remain grounded in their mission—to empower Indian soldiers with next-gen technology that enhances both their safety and strategic effectiveness. By building a vertically integrated defence tech company focused on drone warfare, Vayudh aims to become a cornerstone of India’s future military infrastructure.