India’s Digantara raises $50M for space-based missile defence tech

Founded in 2020, the Bengaluru-headquartered startup initially focused on space situational awareness, tracking debris and objects that could damage satellites. The startup has since expanded its scope to include missile detection and tracking, building on the space- and ground-based sensing and analytics technologies it developed for space surveillance, its founder and chief executive Anirudh Sharma (pictured above) said in an interview.

“Given we’ve already built IR sensors, we are now extending our IR capabilities to other domains like mid- and long-wave infrared,” Sharma told TechCrunch.

Digantara has split its operations across geographies to meet national security requirements. Its U.S. team is focused on building larger satellites and spacecraft in the 100-kilogram class tailored to American defence needs, while its India operation concentrates on analytics, data processing, and space situational awareness. The structure reflects the regulatory realities of defence procurement, where sensitive systems must be designed and built domestically for each market.

Digantara has so far closed contracts with a combined value of about $25 million, Sharma told TechCrunch. The startup currently operates across India, Singapore, and the U.S., and plans to expand into Europe by setting up a local entity there as early as 2026.

In India, Digantara operates a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility capable of producing up to five satellites simultaneously, and plans to scale that capacity significantly. The startup has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government of Andhra Pradesh to set up a larger facility that could manufacture as many as 30 satellites at once, which it aims to bring online next year.

Digantara has already been selected as the winning bidder for government defence tenders in India and is completing administrative formalities before work begins, Sharma said.

Through 2026–27, Digantara plans to expand its space- and ground-based infrastructure, including additional electro-optical and LiDAR satellites for space surveillance, space-based sensors for early missile warning and tracking, and a larger network of ground-based observatories, the company said. It is also exploring the potential use of its LiDAR and laser technologies for future interceptor systems, Sharma asserted.

Digantara plans to launch another satellite through SpaceX in March, followed by additional launches in June and October, with multiple satellites scheduled for the latter mission. The company aims to deploy a total of 15 satellites over the next two years, Sharma said.

The latest funding, he noted, will support those launches, with about $7–$10 million earmarked for expansion in the United States and roughly $2–$3 million set aside to establish operations in Europe, while the remainder will be used to scale its India-based manufacturing and operations.

Digantara has seen revenues grow more than tenfold over the past two years, Sharma said, declining to disclose current figures. He added that the company is targeting annual revenues of $25–$30 million over the next 18 months as defence and government work ramps up.

The startup currently employs around 125 people, including roughly 80 to 85 engineers.