Zebu Raises $1 Mn to Boost Defence Drone Deployment

14 May 2025 CW Team

Founded in 2021 by Dr Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu has developed four cutting-edge drones:

1. IAF Net Drone, a hostile drone neutraliser with a six-cartridge trap system

2. Coast Guard Surface Drone for search and rescue missions

3. Swarm-Enabled Combat Drone for coordinated aerial strikes

4. Tethered Surveillance Drone for uninterrupted border monitoring

The company is now advancing field tests and preparing for production, with sights set on securing a further $5 million to scale integration and explore global markets. Zebu recently set a Guinness World Record for drone endurance and is actively working with the Indian Coast Guard and Army on system trials and certifications.

Bluehill VC partner Sridhar Parthasarathi commented, “Zebu is ideally placed to tap the $11 billion global counter-drone market. Their field-proven technologies are essential to India’s security landscape.”

Zebu is also investing heavily in in-house component manufacturing—including high-performance battery packs, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and stabilised gimbals—to reduce foreign reliance. Its indigenous Ground Control Station (GCS) is currently being evaluated by the Coast Guard and is positioned as a next-gen command interface to rival foreign systems.

The company has filed seven patents, secured two trademarks, and is scaling its IP-driven commercial offerings. Beyond defence, Zebu is adapting military-grade components for industrial applications in logistics, inspection, and unmanned systems.

With its vertically integrated approach and commitment to indigenous innovation, Zebu is poised to become a global leader in unmanned platforms and subsystems.

Image source: orfonline

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

Zebu, an emerging Indian defence-tech startup focused on advanced counter-drone and unmanned systems, has raised $1 million in a pre-Series A round led by Bluehill VC. The investment will expedite the deployment of four mission-critical drones designed for the Indian armed forces, furthering the nation’s defence modernisation and self-reliance goals.Founded in 2021 by Dr Santosh Balajee Banisetty, Zebu has developed four cutting-edge drones:1. IAF Net Drone, a hostile drone neutraliser with a six-cartridge trap system2. Coast Guard Surface Drone for search and rescue missions3. Swarm-Enabled Combat Drone for coordinated aerial strikes4. Tethered Surveillance Drone for uninterrupted border monitoringThe company is now advancing field tests and preparing for production, with sights set on securing a further $5 million to scale integration and explore global markets. Zebu recently set a Guinness World Record for drone endurance and is actively working with the Indian Coast Guard and Army on system trials and certifications.Bluehill VC partner Sridhar Parthasarathi commented, “Zebu is ideally placed to tap the $11 billion global counter-drone market. Their field-proven technologies are essential to India’s security landscape.”Zebu is also investing heavily in in-house component manufacturing—including high-performance battery packs, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and stabilised gimbals—to reduce foreign reliance. Its indigenous Ground Control Station (GCS) is currently being evaluated by the Coast Guard and is positioned as a next-gen command interface to rival foreign systems.The company has filed seven patents, secured two trademarks, and is scaling its IP-driven commercial offerings. Beyond defence, Zebu is adapting military-grade components for industrial applications in logistics, inspection, and unmanned systems.With its vertically integrated approach and commitment to indigenous innovation, Zebu is poised to become a global leader in unmanned platforms and subsystems.Image source: orfonline

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..