Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, integrating advanced technologies to enhance tactical operations.
Among the standout contributors was Odisha-based drone startup IG Drones, which provided critical support to the military during the mission.
Founded in 2018 by five students from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur, IG Drones has emerged as a key player in India’s growing defense-tech ecosystem.
During the high-stakes operation, the Indian Army used IG Drones’ technology for terrain mapping, real-time data collection, and target identification in difficult and inaccessible regions. The startup’s compact drones enabled faster and more efficient decision-making on the ground.
Sharing his pride on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) IG Drones founder Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya wrote, “@IGDrones played a vital role in Operation Sindoor. Spoken not by a bystander, but General RC Padhi. This isn’t just tech. This is Bharat’s sons building for Bharat’s battles. Born in #Odisha. Built for the Nation.”
“@IGDrones played a vital role in Operation Sindoor.”
Spoken not by a bystander, but General RC PadhiThis isn’t just tech.
This is Bharat’s sons building for Bharat’s battles.
Born in #Odisha. Built for the Nation.#OperationSindoor #IGDrones #BharatKeRakshak #MakeInIndia… pic.twitter.com/3SnJZsWQ4M— Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya (@bodhi_ig) May 17, 2025
At the Powering Bharat Summit 2025, retired Major General Ramesh Chandra Padhi, now Senior Vice President (Research & Development) at IG Drones, reflected on the company’s contributions and the challenges faced during the operation.
“The Government of India acknowledged four drone companies for their roles in Operation Sindoor. IG Drones was among them — recognized not only for its performance but also for being cost-effective and entirely indigenous.”
Padhi also recounted a tense episode during the mission, “On May 7, four of our engineers were trapped in the Poonch sector while delivering drones. We were concerned for their safety but managed to extract them unharmed. They were proud to have contributed to a historic moment.”
Showcasing the company’s technological capabilities, Padhi introduced IG Drones’ new range of FPV Kamikaze drones — small, agile, and precision-focused. Operated in (first-person view) and capable of speeds up to 140 km/h, these units are designed for direct-target engagement and priced at just Rs 1 lakh per unit.
The company also manufactures surveillance and mapping drones — all developed and built in India.
Founded by Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Om Prakash, Shuvam Dash, Sambit Prasad Parida, and Ashish Kumar Jena, IG Drones began as a student-led innovation project. Initially intended for the space sector, the team pivoted to drone development in 2015 after recognizing its commercial and strategic potential.
Their efforts even earned a mention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat.’
“I call them the ‘Panchu Pandavas’,” said Padhi. “Their journey from a classroom in Odisha to India’s defense operations is a testament to the power of homegrown innovation.”
Padhi further emphasized that India’s engagement with drones predates global benchmarks. Recalling his own service during the Kargil War, he said, “While many cite the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict as the beginning of drone warfare, India deployed Israeli Heron and Searcher drones during Kargil. At the time, the main challenge was the lack of digital maps. I led a team that worked overnight to digitize maps for real-time battlefield use.”
In just seven years, IG Drones has developed four drone models — three focused on surveillance, data acquisition, and monitoring — establishing itself as a vital player in India’s indigenous defense-tech advancement.
