Indian aerospace and defence startup Raphe mPhibr has secured $100 million in an all-equity Series B round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Think Investments and prominent high-net-worth family offices. The round brings Raphe mPhibr’s total funding to $145 million, marking the largest private capital raise to date by an Indian aerospace manufacturer.
Founded in 2016 by brothers Vikash and Vivek Mishra, the Noida-based startup designs and manufactures end-to-end unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with a focus on indigenous capabilities that align with India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The company has developed nine drone platforms, including the mR10 drone swarm and mR20 high-altitude logistics UAV, all engineered and built entirely in India.
Raphe mPhibr building sovereign drone infrastructure
Raphe mPhibr has grown from a 2,000 sq. ft. research facility to a 650,000 sq. ft. integrated manufacturing campus. The site now hosts India’s most advanced metal processing, composite manufacturing, autopilot development, and electronics production for military-grade UAVs.
Co-founder Vivek Mishra said the company deliberately avoided technology transfer or reliance on foreign suppliers. Raphe mPhibr produces its own flight controllers, batteries, and structural materials in-house, and plans to localise radar and camera manufacturing within 18 months. It currently sources no components from China.
General Catalyst’s Neeraj Arora said, “The products emerging from Raphe mPhibr are already making a tangible impact. Their work embodies our Global Resilience thesis-building for a future that is secure, sovereign, and sustainable.”
Operational success and global ambitions
Raphe mPhibr serves more than 10 government agencies, including the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and border security forces. Its drones support logistics, surveillance, and situational awareness in environments ranging from deserts to maritime zones.
In the last year alone, the company has sold over 300 drones and has posted up to 4x revenue growth for four consecutive years. It has remained profitable since inception and plans to go public within two to five years.
The company also applies AI across its UAV systems for tasks such as object detection, electronic warfare resilience, and swarm intelligence. Partnerships with Dassault Systèmes, Hensoldt, and Safran are supporting simulation, sensor, and system development as it moves towards export markets.
Co-founder and CEO Vivek Mishra noted, “We didn’t want to be constrained by what already existed. We chose to build from scratch-design, research, test, and manufacture in one campus-because India needed it.”
Positioning Raphe mPhibr for defence market expansion
The funding comes amid increasing global demand for unmanned systems, accelerated by conflicts where drones have played key tactical roles. India recently tripled its drone procurement budget to $470 million, according to the Drone Federation of India.
While China dominates the drone manufacturing space globally, Raphe mPhibr aims to establish India as a credible alternative by offering sovereign, high-performance UAV systems built for modern warfare and homeland security.
With over 100 IPs, 600 employees (including 150 in R&D), and a growing roster of international defence partners, Raphe mPhibr is positioning itself as a critical force in the evolving global drone landscape.
Raphe mPhibr is India’s leading indigenous drone and aircraft manufacturing company. Founded by Vikash and Vivek Mishra, the company focuses on full-stack development of UAVs for defence and strategic sectors. It is known for innovations such as the world’s first operational drone swarm and India’s first domestically developed military-grade autopilot. The company is headquartered in Noida, with operations spanning research, simulation, manufacturing, and testing-all under one roof.
