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IG Defence has signed an MoU with Oman-based MSA Global to explore local manufacturing of its attack drone and counter-drone systems
An Indian defence technology company is exploring the possibility of manufacturing its 1,000-km-range attack drone and counter-drone systems in Oman as it looks to expand its presence in the Gulf market amid rising regional security tensions.
Noida-based IG Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman-based MSA Global LLC to explore the “co-development and localisation” of three indigenous defence platforms for Oman and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The proposed partnership covers KAL, a long-range, one-way attack unmanned aerial system (UAS) with a stated range of up to 1,000 kilometres; BAJ, an unmanned aerial interceptor designed to counter other drones; and JWALA, a micro-missile system being developed for counter-drone operations, the company said in press release.
IG Defence has clarified to Firstpost that the intellectual property (IP) and technology behind these platforms will remain “Indian-owned and India-designed”. Oman could provide an industrial base for local manufacturing as part of the proposed partnership.
However, the company has not disclosed which components will be manufactured in India, which could be produced or assembled in Oman, or whether finished systems will be exported from India.
The MoU comes amid heightened security concerns across the Gulf following the Iran war. The conflict has put regional defence preparedness, protection of critical infrastructure and the security of energy and shipping routes in focus.
More from BusinessWhat will India and Oman manufacture?
The MoU was exchanged between Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder and CEO of IG Defence, and Col. M. S. Atwal (Retd.), chairman of MSA Global LLC, during the India-Oman Defence Industry Seminar in Muscat on Thursday, the company said.
The event was facilitated by India’s Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
India’s Ambassador to Oman, the Defence Attache and officials from Oman’s Ministry of Defence were also present at the event.
The three platforms identified for the proposed collaboration have different roles.
KAL is a one-way attack drone with a stated range of up to 1,000 kilometres. Such systems are designed to strike designated targets and are commonly referred to as loitering munitions or one-way attack drones, depending on their design and capabilities.
BAJ is an unmanned aerial interceptor designed to tackle hostile drones. JWALA is a micro-missile system being developed for counter-drone applications.
The proposed collaboration aims to combine India’s defence engineering capabilities with Oman’s industrial ecosystem. This could create opportunities for local manufacturing and help the companies address defence requirements across the GCC market.
IG Defence has said that the technology and IP will be owned and designed in India. This means the proposed localisation in Oman does not, at this stage, indicate a transfer of ownership of the underlying technology.
The company has not yet shared details of the production arrangement, including the extent of local manufacturing, component sourcing, assembly or investment required.
Why is Oman important for India’s defence industry?
The proposed partnership comes at a time when Gulf countries are facing growing security concerns. The Iran war has drawn attention to the vulnerability of energy infrastructure, shipping routes and military installations across the region.
Oman also occupies an important geographical position along the Arabian Sea and near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
For Indian defence manufacturers, partnerships in the Gulf could provide access to new markets and opportunities to work with regional industrial partners.
The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. A manufacturing partnership in Oman could potentially help IG Defence explore opportunities beyond the Omani market, although the MoU does not guarantee access to defence procurement programmes across the region.
For India, such arrangements also offer a route to expand its defence industry through overseas industrial partnerships rather than relying only on finished equipment exports.
What IG Defence and MSA Global said
Col. M. S. Atwal (Retd.), chairman of MSA Global, said the changing security environment in the Gulf had increased the importance of indigenous defence capabilities and regional manufacturing.
He said the proposed collaboration would allow the companies to explore advanced defence technologies by combining India’s engineering expertise with Oman’s industrial capabilities.
Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder and CEO of IG Defence, said the partnership reflected the company’s ambition to take Indian defence technologies to international markets through industrial collaboration.
He said the company’s portfolio includes unmanned systems, counter-drone technologies and missile systems, along with GRID, its AI-powered Battle Management System.
“Our vision is simple: Designed in India. Made in Oman. Built for the World,” Sanghapriya said.
The MoU is an exploratory agreement. It does not confirm a manufacturing contract, an order from the Omani government or a timeline for production.
