Robotics Startup EyeROV Bags INR 47 Cr Indian Navy Contract

Marine robotics startup EyeROV has secured an order of INR 47 Cr ($5.3 Mn) from the Indian Navy to deliver underwater remotely operated vehicles (UWROVs). 

The contract will see EyeROV deliver its ROV named TROUT, which it claims is engineered for deep-sea missions and has features like autonomous-navigation, advanced imaging and construction.  This vehicle can deep dive equipped with advanced payloads to carry out missions such as underwater surveillance and monitor naval environments, among others.

The ROV has been tested in various environment conditions such as turbulent seas for deep water missions as well the coldest depths of the Antarctic Sea. 

Founded in 2017 by IIT-Delhi alumnus Johns T Mathai and ex-National Institute of Ocean Technology project scientist Kannappa Palaniappan, EyeROV develops AI-powered ROVs designed for high-endurance underwater inspections and research. These ROV solutions for various underwater challenges across multiple industries, including:

• Dams: Underwater dam inspections to detect structural issues and sediment buildup in real time.
• Tunnels: Underwater tunnel inspections to detect structural damage, corrosion, and wear in real time.
• Oil & Gas: Offshore ROV inspections to detect corrosion, leaks, and structural issues in real time for oil and gas assets.
• Maritime: Support for the preservation of coral reefs and other vital ecosystems.
• Defense: Assistance in securing underwater defense operations.
• Search & Rescue: Support for ocean rescues and locating and saving lives.

Besides TROUT, EyeROV offers other vehicles like observation-class ROV TUNA, autonomous surface vessel ALPHA USV and AI-powered data analytics platform EVAP. 

It claims to have completed over 150 ROV projects across 5 countries in its run time. The deeptech startup claims to have more than 80 customers including the likes of DRDO, Indian Coast Guard, CSIR and NCPOR. 

The Kochi-based startup had previously raised INR 10 Cr (around $1.2 Mn) in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures, in August last year.

The defence contract for the deeptech startup comes amid a significant shift towards indigenous deeptech solutions in the country’s defense, aligning  with India’s broader strategy to bolster self-reliance in defense technology. 

In FY25, the Indian Ministry of Defence awarded 193 contracts worth INR 2.1 Lakh Cr, with INR 1.7 Lakh Cr allocated to domestic entities, reflecting a concerted effort to prioritise homegrown innovations.

This has also propelled the market size of the Indian defence tech market. According to Inc42’s latest report — India’s Defence Tech Startup Ecosystem Report 2025 — the country’s defence tech market is projected to grow from $7.6 Bn in 2025 to $19 Bn by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%

Investors are thus betting on innovative deeptech businesses in India, to boost their tech capabilities as well as helping them scale their business internationally. 

About a week ago, Rohit Bafna-led 888VC launched its maiden INR 175 Cr (about $19 Mn) alternate investment fund (AIF), to back early-stage startups operating in sectors like AI, deeptech and sustainability startups.

Prior to that, Speciale Invest and Yali Capital have also closed their deeptech funds.

Meanwhile, earlier today, yet another deeptech startup Unmannd raised $2 Mn (about INR 17.7 Cr) in its pre-seed funding round led by Speciale Invest and Accel. Unmanned claimed that the startup’s drones were certified as qualified for battlefield use in August this year by the Indian Army.