India's aerospace and defence sectors are witnessing a significant surge in startup activity, driven by government initiatives promoting self-reliance and innovation. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 defence startups have emerged, contributing to advancements in areas such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and space technology. This growth not only enhances national security but also positions India as a global leader in defence innovation.
Initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) play a pivotal role in
accelerating this development by providing a platform for startups to collaborate,
innovate, and bring cutting-edge solutions to the forefront.
At Aero India 2025, the iDEX Pavilion stands as a testament to India's rapidly
growing startup ecosystem in the defence, aerospace, and space sectors. Inaugurated
by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on February 10, 2025, the pavilion
underscores the nation's commitment to fostering innovation and achieving selfreliance
in defence technology.
Promotion of Indian start-ups is a focus area at Aero India 2025 and a wide
spectrum of state-of-the-art technologies/products developed by them are being
showcased at the exclusive iDEX pavilion.
The iDEX Pavilion features a diverse array of indigenously developed products
and technologies from leading innovators from over 30 startups. Exhibits
span advanced domains such as aerospace, DefSpace, aero structures, anti-drone
systems, autonomous systems, communication, cybersecurity, surveillance and
tracking, and unmanned vehicles. A dedicated section highlights the achievements
of winners from the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with
iDEX (ADITI) scheme, showcasing groundbreaking work in critical and niche
technologies.
"iDEX has been very important in our journey, providing us with invaluable
support in understanding defence requirements, funding, and gaining access to
essential resources. Beyond just financial backing, iDEX's ecosystem has connected
us with key mentors who have guided us in aligning our technology with
real-world defence applications. This support has been crucial in accelerating
the development of our innovative micro propulsion system for CubeSats, which
leverages a unique technology. iDEX has enabled us in positioning ourselves to
contribute meaningfully to national security and the future of space technology,"
added Isha Raje, Senior Lead, Business Development from Manastu Space Technologies
that has recently tested their green propulsion systems in space.
The presence of these startups at Aero India 2025 underscores the government's
support in building a robust aerospace and defence ecosystem. The pavilion
emphasises the growing interdependence of technologies like space tech,
unmanned technology, artificial intelligence, and defence systems, illustrating
their collective utility in strengthening India's defence industry.
"iDEx has given us the opportunity to exhibit what BluJ Aero is building to the
world. We are very grateful for the opportunity to showcase to the armed forces the
cargo and ambulance VTOL aircraft we have built. We hope there will be good use
cases that will come up for what we have been able to conceptualise, design and
manufacture in India," said Vaishali Neotia, Head, Strategy and Business, BluJ Aero
that's displaying their prototype right at the centre of iDEx pavilion at Aero India 2025.
Launched in 2018, iDEX aims to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation
and technology development in defence and aerospace by engaging industries,
including MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia.
It provides grants, funding, and other necessary support to carry out R&D with
potential for future adoption by Indian defence and aerospace sectors.
The initiative has successfully onboarded over 600 startups and MSMEs,
marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation. Furthermore, 40 prototypes
developed under iDEX have received official clearance for procurement,
with 31 procurement contracts worth ₹1,560 crore already signed.
The iDEX Pavilion at Aero India 2025 not only showcases cutting-edge technologies
but also symbolises the government's commitment to security and innovation.
By promoting indigenous solutions and encouraging collaboration among
various stakeholders, iDEX is accelerating the growth of India's startup ecosystem
and propelling the nation towards self-reliance in defence capabilities.
The pavilion at the 15th Aero India indeed stands true to its adage, "iDEX:
where startups shape the next era of aerospace and defence."
