European drone manufacturer Sol.One has formally entered the Indian market through the establishment of DG Sol.One Drone Technologies Private Limited, a new joint venture created in partnership with DGVK Enterprises Private Limited.

Based in New Delhi, the company has been established as an Indian-owned and Indian-led enterprise, reflecting both partners’ long-term commitment to supporting India's rapidly expanding drone ecosystem.

The move marks a significant milestone for Sol.One, which regards India as one of its most strategically important markets. The company intends to introduce its complete portfolio of unmanned aerial systems to the country, covering a wide spectrum of operational requirements ranging from border surveillance and homeland security to specialised high-altitude missions and support for naval operations.

India presents some of the world's most challenging defence environments, including vast desert regions, extensive coastlines and the highest mountain ranges on the planet.

Sol.One believes these demanding conditions make India an ideal market for advanced drone technologies designed for operational reliability in difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions.

All drones supplied through the partnership will be manufactured in India by DG Sol.One. The company plans to apply Sol.One's automotive-scale production expertise to local manufacturing, aligning closely with India's drive towards self-reliance in defence production and indigenous capability development.

The venture is designed not only to strengthen India's drone manufacturing base but also to support employment and industrial activity in Belgium. According to Sol.One, every drone produced in India will generate associated work at its facilities in Bruges and Ghent, reinforcing economic links between the two countries.

India's ambition to significantly expand domestic drone production has created substantial opportunities for manufacturers. The country's defence budget for the 2026-27 financial year stands at approximately €71 billion, with around €20 billion allocated to capital acquisitions and new equipment. A substantial majority of this investment is earmarked for Indian industry, reflecting the government's focus on local manufacturing and technology development.

Drones occupy a central position within these modernisation efforts. India is preparing what is expected to be the largest drone procurement programme in its history, valued at more than €1.5 billion and directed towards domestic manufacturers.

Deliveries are anticipated to continue through 2027, while additional procurement initiatives are already under development. Through DG Sol.One, the Belgian manufacturer positions itself within this market as an Indian company operating under Indian ownership and leadership.

The establishment of DG Sol.One follows Sol.One's participation in the Belgian defence mission to New Delhi between 1 and 4 September 2026. During the visit, Sol.One and DGVK Enterprises signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 September in the presence of the Defence Ministers of India and Belgium, Rajnath Singh and Theo Francken. That agreement has now evolved into the formation of the joint venture.

DG Sol.One will be led by Dipankar Ganguly as Managing Director and Chairman of the Board. A businessman with more than four decades of international experience across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, he previously transformed a garment manufacturing business in Istanbul into one of Türkiye's largest exporters, employing approximately 2,000 people. He currently heads DGVK Enterprises, which has established relationships with government bodies at both state and national levels in India

Joining him in the leadership team is Pankaj Kaushal, who brings extensive military and aviation experience. A former Indian Army officer with 21 years of service, he accumulated more than 6,000 flight hours on unmanned aircraft. During his career, he operated the Indian Army's largest strategic unmanned aircraft, served as a test pilot for indigenous DRDO programs and qualified as a flying instructor. He has trained more than 200 UAV operators.

Explaining the strategic importance of the expansion, Filip Verhaeghe, Managing Director of Sol.One, stated: “The future of drones is being written today on Europe’s eastern flank, and Sol.One remains fully committed to the defence of Europe. India is the other place where drones will be built and flown at a scale the world has rarely seen.

We come to India to stay: to build here, to fly here and to serve those who protect this country, from the border posts in the high Himalaya to the ships of the Indian Navy. Sol.One stands for Safety of Life and One world. Few places give those words more meaning than India.”

Highlighting the venture's alignment with national priorities, Dipankar Ganguly, Managing Director and Chairman of DG Sol.One, said: “India has decided to build the drones its forces need at home. DG Sol.One brings the technology and the production know-how of one of Europe’s leading drone makers into an Indian company, run by Indians. We begin on the eve of Vijayadashami, the festival of victory. We could ask for no better omen.”

The company was formally established on the eve of Vijayadashami, one of India's most significant festivals and a traditional symbol of the triumph of good over evil. Widely regarded as an auspicious occasion for commencing new ventures, the timing carries particular significance for both partners and underscores their belief in the long-term success of the enterprise.

For Sol.One and DGVK Enterprises, DG Sol.One represents more than a commercial partnership. It is a strategic effort to combine European drone technology, manufacturing expertise and operational experience with India's growing industrial capabilities and defence modernisation plans.

As India accelerates investment in domestically produced unmanned systems, the new venture aims to become a significant participant in one of the world's fastest-growing drone markets while strengthening industrial cooperation between India and Belgium.

Agencies