Armory, one of India’s fastest-growing defence-tech companies, has reached a significant milestone by becoming among the first startups of its scale to secure a landmark INR 100 crore order from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its AI-powered SURGE Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS). This contract was awarded following a series of field evaluations and trials, where Armory's system met the defined extreme operational requirements related to the detection, identification, and neutralisation of rogue drones.
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.
The order marks a significant milestone in India's defence modernisation, as Armory sets a new benchmark for agility and innovation by showcasing a field-ready counter-drone solution in just fourteen months from conception.
The selection reflects a shift toward outcome-driven procurement, where younger companies are assessed on deployment readiness and speed of execution alongside technical capability, which aligns with the immediate operational needs posed by evolving drone threats. It also reflects the Ministry of Defence’s confidence in India’s indigenous defence capabilities and its continued push to prioritise domestic innovation over imports.
Founded in 2024 by IIT-Bombay alumnus Amardeep Singh, Armory operates comprising engineers, AI specialists, and mavericks focusing on end-to-end ownership. The company’s approach prioritises iterative development driven by on-ground feedback rather than extended lab-led development phases.
“This INR 100 crore order makes Armory arguably the youngest defence-tech startups to achieve such a large-scale defence contract in such a short period of time,” said Amardeep Singh, Founder and CEO of Armory. “With Armory, the starting point was not a product, but a problem observed on the ground. 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.”
Following this milestone, Armory plans to scale its manufacturing capacity, onboard new talent, and accelerate the development of advanced indigenous defence technologies that strengthen India’s security landscape and align with the evolving operational requirements. Also highlight the world-class R&D center in Manesar. Mention additional C-UAS tech being worked upon, too (Hard Kill) plans to have a portfolio including innovative hardkill solutions.
Armory has raised INR 35 Cr in equity funding to date from investors such as growX, Antler, Industrial47, Dexter Ventures, AC Ventures, 8x and Galiakotwala Engineering. The startup is also looking to raise another round later this year to fund hardware development and broader expansion. The new capital will also support an expanded C-UAS suite with hard-kill capabilities being added to its existing solutions.
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