Vivek Sharma,
New Delhi:RTI activist Tej Pratap Singh on Thursday demanded action against ideaForge after two of its partner companies were disqualified from Indian Army drone tenders.
These companies had proposed drones that allegedly used Chinese-made parts, which Singh said posed a risk to national security.
A new controversy has arisen involving Indian drone company idea Forge after two of its associates were rejected from Army contracts.
The reason:the drones they offered were suspected to have Chinese components,which RTI activist Tej Pratap Singh believes could compromise India’s defence systems.
At a press conference on Thursday,Singh urged the government to take serious action against the company.
He said he had submitted formal complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office,Ministry of Defence,and Commerce Ministry,asking for a detailed investigation and accountability.
He claimed that the drones intended for the Indian Army included Chinese parts,raising the risk of foreign surveillance or interference.
This issue came to light during technical checks of two tenders posted on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in July and August 2024.
The tenders—GEM/2024/B/5044136 and GEM/2024/B/5044183—required 40 mini surveillance drones each for the Northern Command of the Indian Army,a sensitive region near Pakistan and China.
According to Singh,the drones submitted by Rohal Technologies Pvt Ltd and Deftech & Green India Pvt Ltd —both partners of ideaForge —were based on the company’s Q6 V2 D&N model,which allegedly had Chinese-made components.
These bids were disqualified for not meeting ‘Make in India’ guidelines.
Singh also alleged that these drones could be exposed to hacking attempts by hostile countries like China and Pakistan.
He expressed concern that despite ongoing complaints and legal processes,authorities had not imposed stronger checks or penalties.
In its response,ideaForge denied that its drones pose a threat to national security.The company admitted that its partners had been disqualified but said the issue was related to non-critical parts from a Swiss company whose factory is located in China.
“These were trial units meant for evaluation.Our partners might be asked to resolve the issue in future bids,”the company stated.We don’t see how this qualifies as a national security threat.”
Regarding Singh’s hacking claims,ideaForge said previous drone issues were caused by technical glitches and jamming,not cyberattacks.
Such disruptions are common near border areas, and the company said these should not be misunderstood as hacking.The Indian Army had already issued clarification on this matter.
As concerns grow about imported parts and cybersecurity risks, this case reflects the need for stronger defence procurement standards and the ongoing tension between technological growth,policy compliance,and national safety.
