Armory Secures ₹100 Crore MoD Contract for Advanced AI-Powered Counter-Drone System, ETManufacturing
AI Analysis
Indian defense startup Armory has secured a ₹100 crore (approximately $12 million USD) contract from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its AI-powered SURGE Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS). The SURGE system utilizes a proprietary operating system, Samaritan OS, to detect, deny, and neutralize drones operating on non-standard frequencies. Armory developed the system rapidly, in approximately 14 months, emphasizing field-readiness and user feedback.
Key Takeaways
- Contract Value: ₹100 crore for SURGE C-UAS production and deployment.
- Technology: SURGE utilizes AI and the proprietary Samaritan OS for drone detection, denial, and neutralization.
- Development Speed: System developed from conception to field-ready solution in 14 months.
- Focus: System designed for varied Indian border terrains and rapidly changing drone threat profiles.
- Expansion Plans: Armory intends to scale manufacturing, expand its team, and develop hard-kill C-UAS solutions.
Why It Matters
This contract signifies India's commitment to indigenous defense technology and a shift towards outcome-based procurement. The rapid development and deployment focus highlights a need for agile C-UAS solutions capable of addressing evolving drone threats. This also demonstrates growing investment in and reliance on AI-driven systems for air defense.
Armory Secures ₹100 Crore MoD Contract for Advanced AI-Powered Counter-Drone System, ETManufacturing
- Aerospace & Defence
- 1 min read
Defence startup Armory bags ₹100 crore MoD order for indigenous AI-powered counter-drone system
The company plans to scale its manufacturing capacity, expand its team and accelerate the development of additional indigenous defence technologies.
- Published On May 5, 2026 at 01:25 PM IST
Amardeep Singh, Founder at Armory. Armory, a new-age defence-technology startup, on Tuesday said that it has secured an order worth ₹100 crore from the Ministry of Defence(MoD) for its AI-powered SURGE Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System(C-UAS), following field evaluations and trials.According to the company’s statement, the contract covers the production and deployment of SURGE systems, which use proprietary Samaritan OS to detect, deny, and neutralise rogue drones through real-time adaptation against non-standard frequencies.“Drone threats along Indian borders vary significantly by terrain, altitude, weather, line-of-sight, clutter, and usage patterns that change rapidly. The system was developed with continuous inputs from the users, ensuring it addressed these specific conditions rather than offering a generic solution designed for a different operating environment,” said said Amardeep Singh, founder and CEO, Armory.
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Armory said it developed the system in about 14 months from conception to a field-ready solution.The order marks a milestone in India’s defence modernisation and reflects a shift towards outcome-driven procurement, where companies are evaluated on deployment readiness, speed of execution and technical capability. The company plans to scale its manufacturing capacity, expand its team and accelerate development of additional indigenous defence technologies. The company is also working on expanding its C-UAS portfolio, including hard-kill solutions, and highlighted its R&D centre in Manesar.
Founded in 2024 by IIT-Bombay alumnus Amardeep Singh, the company operates with a team of engineers and AI specialists, focusing on end-to-end development driven by on-ground feedback rather than extended lab-based development cycles.Armory has raised ₹35 crore in equity funding from investors including growX, Antler, Industrial47, Dexter Ventures, AC Ventures, 8x and Galiakotwala Engineering. The startup is also planning to raise another funding round later this year to support hardware development and expansion.
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By ETManufacturing Desk ,
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ETManufacturing
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Published On May 5, 2026 at 01:25 PM IST
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