LAT Aerospace Acquires Drone Defense Firm

- LAT Aerospace was founded in January 2025 by Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal and Surobhi Dash, with an initial focus on developing a Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft for regional air mobility in India. - Sharang Shakti, founded in 2023 by a team including alumni from IIT Delhi, is developing both drone detection and neutralization systems. Their product development includes low C-SWaP radars for detecting small drones and "hard-kill" interceptors designed to physically neutralize threats. - The acquisition is a strategic move for LAT Aerospace to vertically integrate core technologies such as autonomy, perception, sensing, navigation, guidance, and control systems, which are applicable to both its civil aviation and new defense ambitions. - Sharang Shakti's counter-drone technology includes two types of interceptors: "hantR," which uses a net for non-lethal interception, and "vajR," which uses kinetic force to destroy targets. Both leverage a proprietary control system and a deep neural network for target acquisition and tracking. - This deal marks LAT Aerospace's official entry into the defense sector, aiming to build indigenous defense capabilities in-house rather than relying on external vendors. - The Indian counter-drone market was valued at approximately $2.3 billion in 2023, driven by increasing security concerns at critical infrastructure and national borders. Projections estimate the market will grow significantly, with one report forecasting it to reach $814.9 million by 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 34.1%. - Prior to the acquisition, Sharang Shakti had secured Rs 5 crore in a pre-seed funding round in September 2024 to fund product development and team expansion.