Ideaforge revenue nosedives 85% in Q1 FY26

Drone maker ideaForge Technologies reported a sharp decline in its topline during the quarter ended June 2025, as revenue from operations fell over 85% year-on-year to Rs 12.78 crore from Rs 86.4 crore in Q1 FY25. The company also recorded a net loss of Rs 21.7 crore compared to a profit of Rs 1.9 crore in Q1 FY25.

The revenue drop was due to a high base in Q1 last year, when IdeaForge had delivered large defence and institutional orders. This quarter saw fewer such deliveries, though gross margin improved to 61.7% on the back of a better product mix.

According to the filings, EBITDA margin worsened to -118.5% in Q1 FY26 from -85.7% in the previous quarter, while PAT margin slipped to -184.3% from -126.5% in Q4 FY25. The decline was primarily driven by a sharp fall in revenue, even as overall expenses remained largely unchanged.

Despite the weak financials, IdeaForge secured a Rs 137 crore order from the Indian Army during the quarter as part of emergency procurement. The company also highlighted its participation in defence operations like Operation Sindoor, where its drones were deployed in active surveillance missions.

“The quarter reinforced ideaForge’s resilience in both tech and business,” said Ankit Mehta, CEO and whole-time director. He pointed to upcoming policy tailwinds, including the Rs 40,000 crore Emergency Procurement push, Rs 1 lakh crore RDI fund, and expected PLI rollout, as key enablers for the drone ecosystem.

Founded in 2007, Mumbai-based ideaForge went public in 2023 and counts institutional investors like Qualcomm Ventures and Infosys among its backers.

IdeaForge closed the market at Rs 542 today with a total market capitalization of Rs 2,342 crore (approximately $275 million).