India’s drone manufacturer ideaForge Technology Ltd. has begun a specialised UAV flight-test training programme for NATO military personnel in the United States, marking the first time an Indian drone company is conducting such training at the prestigious National Test Pilot School (NTPS). 

The week-long programme, which began on March 9, is being conducted through ideaForge Technology Inc, the company’s wholly-owned US subsidiary. As part of the initiative, the company will deploy its NATO-certified SWITCH unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform for hands-on flight-testing exercises. 

The training is being held at the National Test Pilot School (NTPS) in the US and will involve military personnel from several allied forces, including the Royal Canadian Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Indian Navy, German Defence Forces (Bundeswehr), Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force, Sweden, and the United States Air Force. 

“With the changing global order and geopolitical landscape, it is important for forces to stay updated and relevant in electronic warfare and continue upgrading and strengthening their capabilities,” said Ankit Mehta, CEO and co-founder of ideaForge Technology Ltd. 

Industry observers say the selection of an Indian UAV company for such aprogramme highlights growing international recognition of India’s indigenous defence technology capabilities and the increasing acceptance of home-grown drone platforms in tactical military applications. 

Focus on operational drone testing 

Under the programme, participants will undergo structured training modules covering flight-test planning, operational deployment, telemetry monitoring, payload operations, mission evaluation, and post-flight data analysis. 

The exercises are designed to simulate real-world operational scenarios, allowing trainees to evaluate UAV performance in different mission environments while gaining exposure to integrated aerial systems used in modern defence operations. 

“Training NATO military forces on an Indian-developed platform demonstrates that deep-tech innovation from India can contribute meaningfully to global defence preparedness,” Mehta said. 

SWITCH UAV platform 

The training programme will use ideaForge’s SWITCH UAV, a hybrid fixed-wing drone designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as tactical missions. 

The platform is engineered to operate across varied terrains and extreme climatic conditions, enabling long-range and high-altitude surveillance operations. Its lightweight hybrid design allows vertical take-off and landing along with extended endurance during missions. 

According to the company, the drone is widely used for last-mile surveillance and security operations where precision monitoring is required. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Luca Campello, President of the National Test Pilot School, said the partnership allows trainees to gain practical exposure to the complete UAV testing process. 

“NTPS partnered with ideaForge UAV to provide hands-on UAV flight-test training. The platform allows students to practice real flight-test planning, execution, telemetry monitoring, and data analysis in a safe and cost-effective environment,” Campello said.