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Hello followers! Today, let’s dive into the exciting world of military drones and how one Indian startup is making waves.
Indian drone company Raphe mPhibr secured a hefty $100 million in a Series B funding round led by General Catalyst. Their goal? To boost research, development, and local manufacturing since drones are becoming crucial in modern warfare.
Drones are now vital tools in global military conflicts. Countries use them for quick infiltration and impactful strikes, as seen in recent conflicts like the India-Pakistan war. This war saw both nations deploying drones at scale, sparking India to dramatically increase its drone budget to $470 million within a year or so.
While China remains a leader in drone production worldwide, Raphe mPhibr is focused on strengthening India’s indigenous drone industry. Founded in 2017 by Vikash and Vivek Mishra, the Noida-based startup offers nine different drone models ranging from lightweight surveillance drones to heavy-lift platforms, covering distances from 12 to 124 miles.
Most of their clients are Indian government agencies, including the army, navy, air force, and various police forces. The Mishra brothers started conceptualizing the company during their studies at MIT and Georgia Tech, focusing initially on understanding military needs and then developing multicopters, fixed-wing, and VTOL drones.
Originally, the company operated from a small research facility but has since expanded to a massive 650,000-square-foot complex thanks to new investments. They manufacture many drone components in-house, such as flight controllers and batteries, and are planning to produce high-end sensors locally within the next 18 months.
Despite challenges like setting up equipment and sourcing machinery in India, Raphe mPhibr emphasizes employee training and innovation. They also incorporate AI for object detection, electronic warfare resilience, and decentralized swarm decision-making.
Recently, they teamed up with German and French defense firms to develop new sensors and software. With export licenses in hand, they’re eyeing international markets and have already participated in defense shows in Dubai and Paris. Over the past year, they’ve sold more than 300 drones and grown revenue fourfold, aiming for an IPO in the next few years.
With around 600 employees, including 150 in research and 250 in production, Raphe mPhibr has raised $145 million total in equity funding and is poised to continue expanding its footprint in the drone industry.
