In what marks a defining moment for India’s aerospace and defence tech sector, Noida-based Raphe mPhibr has raised a $100 million funding round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Amal Parikh, Think Investments, and multiple high-net-worth family offices.
This is the largest private funding round ever by an Indian aerospace startup — and one that could reshape India’s position in the global defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Founded in 2016 by Vikash Mishra, Vivek Mishra, and Nitin Katiyar, Raphe mPhibr has built an end-to-end manufacturing facility that can take a drone from simulation to sky — right here on Indian soil. From developing indigenous military-grade autopilots to lightweight combustion engines for UAVs, the startup has made deep inroads into what was once considered the sole domain of state-backed players.
Among its star products are:
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mR10: Operational drone swarm system
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mR20: High-altitude logistics drone
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Bharat: Surveillance UAV
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X8: Maritime patrol aircraft
The company has more than 100 unique IPs and over 600 employees, and has worked with global majors like Dassault Systèmes, HENSOLDT, and Safran Electronics & Defense. Their integration of Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform underlines a vision of building sovereign, scalable engineering tools.
What’s even more promising is the global curiosity: Paris, Dubai, London — Raphe mPhibr’s solutions are being looked at not just as made in India, but made for the world.
“This round will help us ramp up manufacturing, deepen R&D, and accelerate strategic partnerships — both in India and abroad,” said Vikash Mishra, co-founder and CEO.
The startup embodies the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, standing at the confluence of Make in India, high-tech manufacturing, and national security.
With this raise, Raphe mPhibr is no longer just a homegrown innovator — it’s fast becoming a global aerospace contender.
By Muskan Dengra
