SPH Aviation launches iQuantara brand.
SPH Aviation launches iQuantara brand: Gurugram — SPH Aviation Pvt Ltd has announced the launch of iQuantara, a new defence-oriented drone technology brand aimed at strengthening indigenous unmanned aerial systems development for India’s security and surveillance ecosystem.
The Gurugram-based company said the launch marks its formal expansion into the defence and aerospace segment, aligning with India’s broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and domestic defence manufacturing initiatives.
Focus on Indigenous Defence Drone Systems
According to the company, iQuantara will focus on the design, development and deployment of next-generation integrated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) tailored specifically for defence applications.
The company said the new brand will work across multiple operational domains, including:
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Surveillance and intelligence gathering;
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Border monitoring;
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Tactical command, control and communication systems (TACC3I);
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Swarm-based drone operations;
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GIS-enabled mapping;
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Logistics support;
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Emergency response applications;
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Autonomous UAV systems.
The initiative builds on defence-related drone projects previously undertaken under the SPH Aviation banner, with the transition to iQuantara intended to provide a more specialised identity and strategic direction for military-focused innovation.
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SPH Aviation’s UAV.
Manufacturing and R&D Expansion Plans
iQuantara said it plans to manufacture more than 500 drones over the next year, with a long-term goal of scaling annual production capacity to 1,000 units.
The company also plans to strengthen its research and development capabilities in areas including telemetry systems, remote-control technologies, autonomous piloting, and secure data exchange.
The expansion comes as India accelerates efforts to reduce dependence on imported defence technologies and encourage indigenous development of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence-driven platforms and advanced aerospace technologies.
The company stated that it is collaborating with defence research agencies and premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to support product innovation and deployment.
Strategic Shift
RK Anand, who holds the rank of Lieutenant General (Retd.), said the new platform was created to address evolving defence operational requirements through domestically developed systems.
“iQuantara has been envisioned as a forward-looking platform to develop indigenous drone technologies that can address the dynamic needs of modern defence operations,” Anand said.
“Our focus is on building reliable, integrated mission-ready systems that are designed, developed, and manufactured in India.”
Preet Sandhu, founder and managing director of AITMC Ventures Ltd, also described the launch as part of a broader strategic evolution from agricultural drone applications into advanced defence technologies.
“With our strong foundation in drone technology and skilling, we see this as a natural progression towards supporting India’s self-reliance in deep-tech areas while building a future-ready innovation ecosystem,” Sandhu said.
The company said it plans to invest approximately ₹75 crore over the next five years and aims to capture around 15 percent of the defence drone market during that period.
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Expansion Beyond Agricultural Drones
AITMC Ventures Ltd., also known as AVPL International, has primarily operated in skill development and agricultural drone technologies since its establishment in 2016.
The company says it has trained more than 100,000 youth through partnerships with central and state government programs and currently manufactures DGCA-certified agricultural drones through its in-house research and development operations.
In addition to manufacturing, AVPL has built training and incubation infrastructure in partnership with educational institutions including AICTE-affiliated institutes, industrial training institutes (ITIs), polytechnics and universities.
Its programs focus on emerging technology sectors such as drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, agritech and advanced manufacturing.
India’s Expanding Defence Drone Market
The launch of iQuantara comes amid rapid growth in India’s unmanned systems sector, driven by increasing military modernization, border surveillance requirements and government policies encouraging domestic defence production.
India has significantly expanded support for indigenous drone development in recent years through policy reforms, procurement initiatives and production-linked incentives aimed at building a domestic aerospace ecosystem.
Industry analysts say the defence drone segment is expected to witness substantial growth as the armed forces increasingly integrate autonomous and AI-enabled systems into reconnaissance, logistics, surveillance and tactical operations.
Against that backdrop, companies with existing drone manufacturing, software integration and skilling capabilities are positioning themselves to participate in the country’s evolving defence technology landscape.
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