Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Raphe mPhibr, one of India’s most promising aerospace and drone manufacturing companies, has raised $100 million in fresh funding, marking a significant milestone in the country’s private defence manufacturing sector. The funding round was led by global venture capital firm General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors such as Amal Parikh, Think Investments, and several high-net-worth family offices. This is the largest private capital raised by any Indian company in this sector and brings the company’s total funding to $145 million.
Neeraj Arora, Managing Director at General Catalyst, expressed strong confidence in Raphe mPhibr’s mission and technological prowess. He stated that the company’s vision aligns with General Catalyst’s focus on building resilient, secure, and sustainable global systems. Arora highlighted that the impact of Raphe mPhibr’s products is already being seen on the ground and that the company is playing a vital role in strengthening India’s strategic self-reliance. Shashin Shah, Managing Partner at Think Investments, echoed these sentiments and emphasized the company’s unique position in India’s aerospace landscape due to its integrated capabilities in design, engineering, and manufacturing.
Founded nearly ten years ago, Raphe mPhibr was established in line with India’s national initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. It was created to build cutting-edge defence technologies within India, especially in a world where security needs are evolving rapidly. Drawing inspiration from nature and scientific observation, Raphe mPhibr’s engineering philosophy is rooted in deep technical knowledge and multidisciplinary research. The company has strong departments in aerodynamics, structural mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetics, and other core areas that allow it to build advanced systems aligned with the natural world’s logic and efficiency.
What sets Raphe mPhibr apart is its end-to-end manufacturing ecosystem. Rather than relying on assembly or external components, the company has built India’s most advanced aerospace manufacturing campus. The facility integrates everything from design and simulation to manufacturing and testing. It includes state-of-the-art setups for composite materials, metal processing, engine design, electronics, and more—all under one roof. This allows for seamless coordination and control over the entire product lifecycle, a rarity in the Indian defence tech space.
Raphe mPhibr’s products are already making an impact. Its mR10 is the world’s first operational drone swarm, while the mR20 serves as a high-altitude logistics UAV designed for resupply missions in remote locations. Other platforms like Bharat—a portable drone for surveillance—and the X8 for maritime patrols are in active service, helping security forces move faster and respond more effectively. Several new systems are currently under development and are expected to enter field trials soon. The company’s growing global profile has earned it recognition in defence circles from Paris to Dubai.
The company has also formed strategic partnerships with global firms such as Dassault Systèmes, HENSOLDT, and Safran. These collaborations have enhanced its ability to develop world-class technologies. Company leaders from these global firms have publicly praised Raphe mPhibr’s technical excellence and potential to emerge as a global player in the drone and defence technology space. With this new funding, Raphe mPhibr plans to further expand its capabilities and play a leading role in making India a hub for aerospace innovation and self-reliant defence manufacturing.
