On 18 November 2025, Sagar Defence, an iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) winner, secured the “Accelerating the Autonomous Robotics Revolution” challenge under the VISTA Track at the Dubai Airshow 2025, earning a USD 5,000 prize for its autonomous systems concept. iDEX congratulated the team, calling it a reflection of India’s rising strength in defence innovation.
Sagar Defence’s winning pitch featured “Genesis”, a “boat-in-a-box” AI-powered module that can be retrofitted onto existing vessels to make them semi-autonomous, fully autonomous, or remotely operated. The company presented the idea during a three-minute pitch to the grand jury.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, iDEX has rapidly become a major driver of India’s defence-tech ecosystem and now works with over 650 start-ups and MSMEs. At the Dubai Airshow, 15 iDEX-supported startups showcased technologies in robotics, space systems, electronic warfare, battlefield awareness, anti-drone systems, AR/VR training, and autonomous platforms, including innovations such as an autonomous cargo aerial vehicle, multi-sensor satellite systems, portable SAR image disrupters, and AESA radar for counter-UAS operations.
Strong interest from global OEMs and investors signals growing international recognition of India’s innovation-driven defence ecosystem. The Vista Startup Zone at the airshow (17–21 November) provided startups with mentorship, investor access, and global exposure.
