Odisha Startup Scores Big Deal with Indian Navy for Underwater Robots
An exciting breakthrough in India’s tech scene! Coratia Technologies, a deep-tech startup from Odisha, has inked a massive INR 66 crore (about USD 7.5 million) contract with the Indian Navy. The deal focuses on supplying and maintaining their homegrown Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROVs). This news highlights India’s push for indigenous underwater robotics and self-reliance in defense tech.
The signing happened with top Indian Navy officials present, marking the first major rollout of India-made UWROVs into active naval duties. The Navy has already put the star vehicle, Jalasimha, into service after tough tests that met NASA’s Technology Readiness Level-9 standards. This means it’s fully ready for real-world missions.
Coratia’s lineup includes Jalasimha and Jaladuta for underwater tasks, plus Navya, an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV). These robots use sonar mapping, AI, and machine learning for real-time data crunching. They serve both defense needs and civilian projects, like ocean exploration. What’s cool is their budget-friendly design—it delivers high-end features at a fraction of the cost, making India a leader in affordable underwater robotics.
Backers are thrilled too. Raj Sethia, Founder and Managing Partner at MGF Kavachh, said, "We spotted Coratia’s edge in homegrown innovation. Our investment backs not just a startup but the Make in India vibe and our dream of global tech dominance." Col. Sarjeet Yadav (Retd.), a Venture Partner there, added, "In shaky global times, these innovations cut our dependence on foreign tech and boost technological sovereignty."
Fresh off this win, Coratia raised INR 17.4 crore (around USD 2 million) in a Pre-Series A funding round in July 2025. MGF Kavachh led it, with Pontaq Ventures India joining in. The cash will fuel R&D, intellectual property growth, and exports to meet booming global demand. The underwater robotics market is hot—it’s worth USD 5.08 billion in 2025 and could hit USD 9.53 billion by 2030, growing at 13.39% annually, according to Mordor Intelligence.
On the civilian side, Coratia’s UWROVs already help big names like SAIL, Indian Oil, Indian Railways, and TATA Steel. These versatile machines handle everything from inspecting dams and bridges to mapping ocean floors, tracking marine life, and checking offshore energy setups, pipelines, and subsea cables. They even shine in disaster response and water quality checks.
Debendra Pradhan, Co-Founder and CEO of Coratia, shared, "This deal validates our skills in building critical underwater systems. It shows the Navy’s drive to boost India’s research scene through programs like iDEX." Biswajit Swain, Co-Founder and CTO, chimed in, "Bringing in local UWROVs slashes costs, ditches foreign suppliers, and dodges trade hurdles. We’re geared up to enhance defense readiness and grow India’s blue economy."
Founded by Pradhan and Swain, Coratia Technologies specializes in advanced autonomous underwater vehicles for defense and civilian uses. The startup got its start at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela’s FTBI, STPI Bhubaneswar’s Electropreneur Park, and with backing from Startup Odisha and i-Hub Gujarat. This Odisha success story is a win for India’s innovation drive!
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