There had been lots of attention on phones and laptops that were being made in India, but it turns out India was quietly manufacturing some much deadlier items as well.
The SkyStriker drones, which attacked some terrorist training camps last night in Pakistan, were made in Bengaluru, reports TOI. An unspecified number of these drones were manufactured in an industrial estate in western Bengaluru as part of a joint venture involving Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design and Israel’s Elbit Security Systems. The Army had placed an emergency procurement order in 2021 for 100-odd SkyStrikers, and they were reportedly deployed for the first time in the anti-terror strikes on Pakistani soil under Operation Sindoor.
These SkyStriker suicide drones are designed to locate, acquire and strike operator-designated targets. With a range of 100km, each suicide drone is an autonomous system carrying a 5kg or 10kg warhead. Its electric propulsion offers a minimal acoustic signature, allowing covert operations at low altitude. SkyStriker is touted as a cost-effective loitering munition while being capable of long-range precision strikes. The drone improves performance, situational awareness and survivability by providing direct-fire aerial-precision capabilities to manoeuvrable troops and special forces. Elbit, in a description of the drone, says the SkyStriker flies like a UAS (unmanned aircraft system) and strikes like a missile. “As a silent, invisible, and surprise attacker, SkyStriker delivers the utmost in precision and reliability, providing a critical advantage in the modern battlefield.”
Alpha Design’s CMD, Colonel (retd) HS Shankar, declined to comment on reports about SkyStrikers playing a role in Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure at several locations in Pakistan. “Such queries must only be referred to the govt authorities,” he added.
Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd is a defense and aerospace company established in 2003, specializing in R&D, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and integration of defense electronics, avionics, UAVs, and space satellite systems. It operates with a focus on indigenous production aligned with the Indian government’s “Make in India” policy and has industrial licenses for various defense products. In 2018, Adani Defense Systems, a wholly-owned arm of Adani Enterprises, had acquired the company for Rs. 400 crore.
India’s defence manufacturing startup ecosystem is rapidly growing, driven by government initiatives like the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program, which supports over 600 startups and MSMEs with funding and collaboration opportunities. This surge aims to reduce India’s historic dependence on arms imports by fostering indigenous innovation in areas such as drones, surveillance systems, unmanned vehicles, and advanced combat gear. Prominent startups include ideaForge, a pioneer in UAVs for border surveillance; Torus Robotics, developing unmanned ground vehicles; EyeROV, specializing in underwater drones; and Big Bang Boom Solutions, focusing on anti-drone technology and bulletproof gear. Others like AGNIT Semiconductors and AjnaLens are innovating in defence electronics and augmented reality for tactical applications.