An Indian defence startup supported by the iDEX programme has won a major robotics challenge at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Sagar Defence secured the Accelerating the Autonomous Robotics Revolution challenge under the VISTA Track and received a prize of 5000 dollars for its autonomous systems concept. iDEX congratulated the team and said the win reflects India’s growing presence in global defence innovation.
Sagar Defence presented its concept called Genesis which it describes as a boat in a box solution built around an AI powered module that can be fitted onto existing vessels. Sanyukta Singh from the company said, “We were grateful to give a three minute pitch to the grand jury and also been awarded for the same. As part of the startup vista challenge, we brought forward our concept of Genesis, an AI powered solution that can make existing vessels semi autonomous, fully autonomous or remotely operable.”
The iDEX initiative was launched in 2018 and has become an important platform for defence innovation in India. It now supports more than 650 startups and MSMEs and has helped build a strong ecosystem of emerging defence technologies.
The award comes as 15 iDEX supported startups showcase their innovations at the Dubai Airshow. Their technologies span robotics, space systems, electronic warfare, battlefield awareness and autonomous platforms. The displayed solutions include a multi sensor satellite combining SAR and EO payloads, an autonomous cargo aerial vehicle battlefield surveillance tools, a portable SAR image disrupter AR VR based training systems drone and anti drone technologies and an AESA radar designed for counter UAS operations.
Global interest from investors and original equipment manufacturers continues to grow as India’s innovation driven defence sector gains momentum. The Dubai Airshow running from 17 to 21 November features the Vista Startup Zone which offers mentorship investor access and pitching opportunities giving startups an international platform to highlight their technologies.
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