Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr raises $100M as military UAV demand soars
This quote shows us how war is changing and why one Indian drone company just became really important. Think about this for a second. India and Pakistan both have expensive fighter jets and advanced missiles. However, when they went to war, they used cheap drones instead. That tells you everything about where military technology is heading.
Now one might wonder why all of a sudden drones are taking over, it’s quite simple actually. A fighter jet costs between $50-$100 million and it takes years to train pilots. A drone costs a fraction of that and can be operated from thousands of miles away. No pilot dies if it gets shot down. It’s a no brainer for military commanders.
India’s response was immediate and massive. They tripled their drone budget to almost half a billion dollars. That’s not just buying a few extra drones. That’s completely changing how they fight wars.
So what’s the problem that India faced? Ironically, most military drones come from China. That’s like buying your weapons from your biggest rival. It’s dangerous and stupid. What happens if China cuts off supplies during a conflict? That’s where Raphe mPhibr comes in. This Indian startup is building drones entirely in India, and that too using zero Chinese parts. They’ve grown from a tiny 2000 square foot lab to a massive 650000 square foot factory. They’re profitable and growing 4 times year over year.
The timing couldn’t be better. Countries around the world are realizing that they need their own drone capabilities. Nobody wants to depend on China or other rivals for their defense technology.
Raphe mPhibr isn’t just selling to India anymore. They’re expanding globally and talking to governments worldwide. They’re planning to go public in the next few years which could make them a major defense company.
The bigger picture is clear: drone warfare is here to stay. It’s cheaper, safer and more effective than traditional military assets. Companies that can build reliable drones without depending on adversaries are going to make serious money.
