In a bold stride for Indian defense-tech, aerospace startup Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million in funding led by General Catalyst, as drone warfare, military drones, and aerospace startup strategies reshape global security, especially following the latest India-Pakistan conflict. The Noida-based Indian defense-tech firm has now secured $145 million in total, marking the largest private capital raise in India’s aerospace manufacturing history.

This investment surge aligns with India’s increased military spending, as the government, reacting to the India-Pakistan conflict, tripled its drone budget to $470 million for the next 12–14 months. It also reflects the shift seen globally, from Gaza to Ukraine, where military drones are central to modern combat.

Founded in 2016 by brothers Vikash and Vivek Mishra, along with Nitin Katiyar, Raphe mPhibr has become a standout aerospace and drone startup in India’s Indian defense-tech sector. Starting with a modest 2,000-square-foot lab, it now operates a 650,000-square-foot integrated facility that houses over 600 employees, including 150 researchers.

The company offers nine military drones, including the Bharat surveillance drone, the mR10 drone swarm platform, and the mR20 high-altitude logistics UAV. With payload capacities up to 441 pounds and ranges extending to 124 miles, these systems are in active use by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and armed police units.

To date, Raphe mPhibr has delivered over 300 military drones, playing a key role in India’s border surveillance and rapid-response capabilities amid rising cross-border threats.

Global Expansion and Strategic Alliances

Amid the intensifying drone warfare landscape, Indian defence-tech startups like Raphe mPhibr are scaling fast. The company has signed partnerships with Germany’s Hensoldt and France’s Safran to co-develop sensor technologies and collaborated with Dassault Systèmes for simulation software.

With an eye on exports, the company has showcased its systems at international defense expos in Dubai, London, and Paris. The $100 million capital boost will help fund new facilities and increase production. It has also announced INR 700 crore in planned capital expenditure through FY27, part-funded by INR 250 crore in debt.

Financially, the Indian defense-tech firm is soaring. In FY25’s first nine months, it recorded INR 241.4 crore in revenue and INR 36 crore in net profit. That’s a huge leap from FY24’s INR 84.29 crore revenue. The valuation has also surged more than 3x—from $283 million in March to $890 million now.

Backed by General Catalyst, a fund known for supporting defense giants like Anduril and Helsing, Raphe mPhibr now holds a 6 percent stake in General Catalyst’s India portfolio. It joins a global trend where private VCs are reshaping national security technologies.

India’s Defense-Tech Renaissance

The rise of Indian defence-tech startups reflects a broader government shift. With programs like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and tech transfers to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India is opening its military sector to private innovation.

As the India-Pakistan conflict highlighted the critical role of military drones in real-time battlefield surveillance and precision strikes, Raphe mPhibr stands at the forefront of this new frontier. Its technology, already integrated with the Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, exemplifies the agility that traditional contractors often lack.

With plans for an IPO in the next 2–5 years, Raphe mPhibr is building toward global leadership in Indian defense-tech. In an era defined by drone warfare, it offers India an indigenous, scalable answer to the needs of modern military strategy.

The startup isn’t just making machines, it’s rewriting the rules of engagement, one drone at a time.

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