Chennai-based drone and navigation solutions company ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies has delivered over 500 STQC-certified, cyber-secure Ajeet series drones to the Indian Army over the past three months.
Certification and compliance
The deployment follows the successful completion of rigorous certification processes aligned with the Indian Army’s cybersecurity framework for unmanned systems. These drones have undergone comprehensive testing by the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate, meeting stringent benchmarks for cybersecurity, reliability, and operational resilience.
Cybersecurity focus
The certification process for drones closely parallels that required for CCTV cameras, as both aim to address comparable vulnerabilities identified in recent hacking incidents.
Secure-by-design approach
At a time when unmanned systems are increasingly central to modern warfare, the focus on secure-by-design technologies has become critical. ZUPPA’s Ajeet series drones are engineered to address these evolving needs, combining robust cybersecurity architecture with high-performance capabilities tailored for defence applications.
It is mission-critical
ZUPPA Geo Navigation Technologies Founder and MD Sai Pattabiram said, “As drones become integral to modern defence strategies, cybersecurity is no longer optional; it is mission-critical.”
Indigenous design and capability building
Designed and manufactured in India, the Ajeet series offers intuitive controls and operational ease comparable to leading global platforms, enabling frontline personnel to deploy them effectively across a range of mission scenarios. Beyond hardware, ZUPPA has also enabled capability building on the ground by training Indian Army personnel to operate these drones both independently and in coordinated swarm formations using its indigenous ‘Aatmanirbhar Swarm’ software.
High-performing and resilient
“With the increasing weaponisation of drones, ensuring cyber-secure unmanned systems is essential for safeguarding operations. Our focus has been on building indigenous platforms that are not only high-performing but also resilient, secure, and trusted for deployment in contested, EW-saturated operational environments,” he added.
Quality and scalability
This milestone also reflects ZUPPA’s continued focus on building globally benchmarked systems, supported by robust quality and manufacturing frameworks aligned with international aerospace and defence quality standards, including AS9100. This ensures high levels of product safety, risk management, and manufacturing process standardisation, while enabling rapid scalability to meet surge demand requirements by design.