ASTRA Drones is building an interceptor to catch other drones in the air
The IIT Ropar-incubated company is developing high-speed unmanned platforms designed for Indian operating conditions and has moved into strike systems.
ASTRA Drones, a startup founded in 2025 by Sarthak Gaira and Siddharth Kushwaha, is developing an interceptor drone aimed at catching other drones mid-flight. Located in Punjab and incubated at the Technology Business Incubator Foundation at IIT Ropar, the company focuses on unmanned platforms tailored for Indian operational requirements rather than adapting imported systems.
The high-speed interceptor drone, their first product, targets aerial threats while minimizing reliance on imported technology. In July 2026, they announced plans to enter the loitering munition segment with an indigenous strike drone, transitioning from defensive to offensive capabilities within a year of establishment.
ASTRA Drones emphasizes the importance of domestic design to secure supply chains, build intellectual property, and foster manufacturing capabilities within India. Their future trajectory involves integrating robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous decision-making to enable platforms to execute more complex missions with minimal human intervention, aligning with broader industry trends.
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