InsideFPV, a Surat-based deeptech startup, delivered 100 combat drones to the Indian Army in just 60 days. This fast deployment highlights India's urgent push for indigenous defence tech, especially post the 2020 Galwan clash. The company’s FPV kamikaze drones are designed for border conditions dropping to -35 degrees Celsius, tackling a critical gap.
How We Got Here
The 2020 Galwan clash exposed India's reliance on imported drones, spurring InsideFPV's formation that same year to build FPV systems. The Surat startup, which has raised ~$1.8 million to date (latest Rs 6 crore in Jan 2026), prioritized defence after starting with a broader consumer and education focus.
The Numbers
- InsideFPV's kamikaze drones, designed for one-time use, exceed 250 km/h and maintain operation even with GPS jamming.
- CEO Arth Chowdhary emphasized the engineering focus on reliability in -35 degree Celsius conditions, differentiating from cheaper imports.
- The company’s "plug-and-fly" FPV drones aim for minimal soldier training, allowing quick field deployment.
- Co-founders Arth Chowdhary, Deyvant Bhardwaj, and Oshi Kumari initially started with a consumer and education drone line, including a patented education drone.
- Investors include GVFL, Mumbai Angels, Inflection Point Ventures, Soonicorn Ventures, and DLabs.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For defence DeepTech founders in Pune and Hyderabad, InsideFPV's rapid deployment and B2G success demonstrate a viable path for indigenous hardware startups in a critical national security sector.
The Take
What's often missed is the sheer policy tailwind driving these indigenous defence hardware startups, making B2G a real option today, not just aspiration. Expect more Indian VCs to start chasing these deeptech hardware plays, even with the longer sales cycles, seeing real-world deployments as their validation.
Source:
YourStory ↗