India’s XR Startups: Pioneering Defence, Maritime & Air Force Excellence Through Immersive Tech

The future of India’s defence, maritime, and air force capabilities is being reshaped by a vibrant ecosystem of extended reality (XR) startups delivering cutting-edge AR, VR, and MR solutions. These innovative companies are not only enhancing training and operational efficiencies but are also crucially supporting the government’s vision of a technologically self-reliant and battlefield-ready force.

At the heart of this transformation is the Ministry of Defence’s flagship initiative, iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), which fosters innovation by providing grants, mentorship, and procurement pathways to nearly 300 startups fueling disruptive technologies for India's armed forces. With government funding up to ₹1.5 crore (and up to ₹10 crore for prime schemes), iDEX is accelerating development of XR-powered modules that improve situational awareness, mission rehearsal, and command capabilities.

Among the standout XR startups shaping India’s defence landscape:

• Parallax Labs (Mumbai) specializes in VR simulators for pilot and defense personnel training, producing cost-effective immersive environments critical for air force preparedness.

• AjnaLens (Mumbai) delivers AR-based head-mounted displays with night vision and 360-degree battlefield awareness, enhancing soldier training and real-time operational intelligence. Their tech is deployed across Indian army and DRDO projects.

• Bala Aatral Solutions: A Chennai-based startup that received an iDEX grant of INR 3 crore for developing AR/VR solutions for airplane mechanics and VR-based helicopter pilot training simulators. Their work focuses on immersive training environments using XR tech

• Edgeforce Solutions( Hyderabad):

  Founded by two decorated Army veterans, Edgeforce Solutions is on a mission to empower India’s armed forces through indigenous, AI-driven defence technologies, from autonomous vehicles to immersive AR/VR combat simulators that mirror real-world stress and tactical complexity.

• Qvolv Technologies (Noida) harnesses MR-powered intelligent modules enabling real-time terrain visualization, 360° mission rehearsals, threat identification even of camouflaged enemies, and hands-free drone control. Their immersive platforms allow seamless virtual communication between command units and ground forces, redefining operational command and battlefield coordination.

• Big Bang Boom Solutions (Chennai) offers revolutionary “see-through armor” with AR overlays for armored vehicles and advanced anti-drone defense systems utilized in key military operations.

• Optimized Electrotech (Ahmedabad) integrates multispectral imaging with AR features for intelligent threat detection and surveillance guarding borders and critical infrastructure.

Together, these startups are proving indispensable in maritime domain awareness, air force pilot simulations, and ground force battlefield management via XR technologies that bring heightened precision and agility to defense operations.

This robust startup ecosystem has been galvanized by India’s soaring defence budget and “Make in India” policies, which aim to reduce foreign dependency and champion indigenous innovation. With over 1,000 defense tech startups emerging recently and dozens receiving procurement clearances and contracts worth hundreds of crores, India is forging a secure, tech-empowered future.

In an age where battlefield success hinges on rapid situational insight and simulation-led preparedness, India's XR startups are not just service providers — they are strategic partners in fortifying the nation’s defence, maritime, and aerial domains with immersive technology that translates vision into victory.