By N. C. Bipindra
New Delhi/Hyderabad (Telangana): India’s defence firm Zen Technologies chairman & managing director Ashok Atluri, in an exclusive conversation with Defence Capital, laid out an aggressive multi-year roadmap built on indigenous Intellectual Property (IP), global expansion, and deep integration of unmanned and counter-drone capabilities.
With foreign COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) systems posing the biggest risk to India’s Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) defence ambitions, Atluri explained how Zen Technologies plans to stay ahead through Research & Development dominance and user-driven innovation.
INR 6,000 crore in three years with 35% margins: Anti-drone push leads the charge
Atluri revealed Zen Technologies’ most ambitious target yet: INR 6,000 crore in cumulative consolidated revenue over the next three years with 35% operational EBITDA margins.
A staggering 35% to 40% of this will come from anti-drone systems, loitering munitions, and UAV technologies, areas witnessing explosive global demand.
“These are the technologies that will define modern battlefields,” Atluri said, noting that Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and autonomous warfare solutions are now front and centre for armed forces worldwide.
TISA Aerospace acquisition: Zen’s path to becoming a full-spectrum unmanned systems integrator
Zen Technologies’ recent acquisition of TISA Aerospace marks a strategic leap, accelerating its transformation into a complete force-readiness and unmanned-systems integrator.
“TISA will continue independently as a specialist UAV systems developer,” Atluri clarified. “Zen Technologies will integrate TISA’s UAVs with our C-UAS stack and simulation systems, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for future warfare.”
A deep IP moat: 210 patents, 90+ products, and an innovation-led factory
Zen Technologies has built one of India’s strongest defence IP portfolios:
- 210 patents
- 58 design registrations
- 190+ trademarks
- 90+ developed and commercialised systems
Its Hyderabad manufacturing hub, Atluri noted, is “a fusion of precision engineering, AI, and real-time analytics” enabling rapid innovation and customisation.
Zen Technologies will continue to invest heavily in Indian-owned IP to maintain technological independence.
Exports from 60+ nations to 25% to 30% revenue share
Zen Technologies’ products are already operational in over 60 countries, cementing its status as a global ambassador of Indian defence technology.
New export campaigns are underway in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
“Our goal is to make exports 25% to 30% of consolidated revenues within three years,” Atluri said.
User-driven innovation: Counter-drone system evolved through battlefield feedback
Operational feedback from India’s armed forces is a major driver of Zen Technologies’ R&D pipeline.
“One recent example is our combat-proven counter-drone system,” Atluri explained. User inputs led to upgrades, including enhanced Artificial Intelligence classification, superior signal processing, and multiple neutralisation options integrated into a more capable command console.
Competition, differentiators & the self-reliance edge
Atluri emphasised Zen Technologies’ unique position, a listed Indian defence-tech firm born from a small Hyderabad engineering team, now exporting worldwide.
The differentiators:
- Massive IP base
- Advanced manufacturing + AI-driven engineering
- Rapid product customisation
- Global presence in 60+ countries
- Proven combat-ready systems
“We are fiercely independent and proudly Atmanirbhar (self-reliant),” he underlined.
Key headlines for investors, armed forces, and Zen’s biggest risk
For Investors: Zen is building indigenous defence technologies that strengthen India’s security and cement its position as a global innovation leader.
For the Armed Forces: True Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) lies not just in hardware but also in mastering the technologies and software that power modern warfare.
Biggest Execution Risk: Foreign COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) traps, which may weaken India’s long-term defence autonomy.
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