India's Defencetech startup Flying Wedge Defence secures international order for 35 autonomous aircraft

Bengaluru-based defence tech startup Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) has secured India’s first global export order for its FWD 100 ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) autonomous aircraft from a Sub-Saharan nation. 

The deal is said to place India among the elite league of global defence exporters, alongside the USA, China, Turkey, Iran and Israel. 

The landmark deal was announced at Aero India 2025, Bengaluru, where the startup also displayed the upgraded unmanned bomber with laser-graded weaponry and a 24-hour endurance capability, as shown in the image.

First Indian autonomous aircraft to receive a global order

According to the information, the FWD 100 ISR is a sub-variant of the FWD 200B and is said to be the first made in India autonomous aircraft to receive a global order.

While the value of the deal remains undisclosed, the agreement includes an initial delivery of 35 autonomous aircraft. The aircraft is entirely developed and manufactured in India at FWDA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Electronic City, Bengaluru. 

Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder and CEO of FWDA, said, “India has long been the world’s largest importer of arms, often paying ten times the cost for military technology from countries like the US and Israel. This export order marks a pivotal turning point in our nation’s history, elevating us into the exclusive league of the world’s top five defence exporters,” 

“This deal is not just an achievement for FWDA but a monumental step for India’s defence ecosystem. It’s proof that we are shaping the future of global defence,” he further added.

FWD 100 ISR features

Setting a new standard in autonomous defence technology, FWD 100 ISR features, Advanced Optical Payload for precise surveillance and intelligence gathering; impressive Specifications of 6-meter wingspan, 3.8-meter length, and 90 kg maximum take-off weight paired with unmatched endurance of 24-hour operational capability, ideal for critical reconnaissance missions.

Founded in 2022 by Suhas Tejaskanda, Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace aims to make India the global hub of ACA manufacturing and to empower the Indian Defence Air Forces with advanced defence capabilities. 

Along with patented killer drones and bomber unmanned aircraft in the defence sector, the startup has also achieved proficiency in AI-ML embedded drones with analytics in the agricultural sector.

Notably, it has become India’s first firm to secure a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type certification for indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.