Indian space surveillance startup Digantara has raised $50 million in a new funding round to move beyond space situational awareness to missile tracking, citing growing government demand for space-based defense capabilities.
The all-stock Series B round included participation from serial entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala, as well as new investors including 360 ONE Asset and SBI Investment of Japan, as well as existing backers Peak XV Partners and Kalaari Capital. The funding comes more than two years after the startup’s $10 million Series A1 round, bringing its total funding to $64.5 million.
Globally, governments are increasing investment in space-based surveillance and early warning systems as missile launches and satellite interference become more frequent, with many seeking faster detection than traditional ground-based radar. Digantara aims to develop that market using space and ground-based infrared sensors and software-based analytics and intelligence.
Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Bengaluru, the startup initially focused on space situational awareness, tracking debris and objects that could damage satellites. The startup has since expanded its scope to include missile detection and tracking, building on the space- and ground-based sensing and analysis technology it developed for space surveillance, founder and CEO Anirudh Sharma (pictured above) said in an interview.
Digantara launched the first space surveillance satellite SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) on SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission in January, enabling space-to-space observations. A month later, the startup opened an office in Colorado Springs as part of its push into the U.S. defense market, which has since led to a contract with the U.S. Space Force for analytics-as-a-service. The company’s US subsidiary has also been selected as the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract vehicle in support of the Next Generation Missile Defense Program.
“We’ve already built IR sensors, so now we’re expanding our IR capabilities into other areas such as medium-wave infrared and long-wave infrared,” Sharma told TechCrunch.
Digantara divides its operations across regions to meet national security requirements. The company’s US team focuses on manufacturing large 100-kilogram satellites and spacecraft for US defense needs, while its India operations focus on analytics, data processing and space situational awareness. This structure reflects the regulatory reality of defense procurement, where sensitive systems must be designed and built domestically for each market.
Digantara has signed contracts totaling about $25 million to date, Sharma told TechCrunch. The startup currently operates in India, Singapore, and the United States, and plans to expand into Europe by establishing a local subsidiary in Europe as early as 2026.
Digantara operates a 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility in India that can manufacture up to five satellites simultaneously and plans to significantly expand its capacity. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a large-scale facility capable of manufacturing up to 30 satellites at a time, with the aim of commissioning it next year.
Digantara has already been selected as the successful bidder for the Indian government’s defense tender and is completing paperwork before work begins, Sharma said.
Digantara plans to expand its space and ground infrastructure from 2026 to 2027, including the addition of electro-optical and lidar satellites for space surveillance, space-based sensors for early warning and tracking of missiles, and an extensive network of ground-based observatories, the company said. Sharma also claimed that the company is exploring the possibility of using its lidar and laser technology in future interception systems.
Digantara plans to launch another satellite through SpaceX in March, followed by additional launches in June and October, with multiple satellites planned for the latter mission. The company aims to deploy a total of 15 satellites in the next two years, Sharma said.
He said the latest funding will support these launches, with approximately $7 million to $10 million earmarked for expansion in the U.S., approximately $2 million to $3 million set aside to establish operations in Europe, and the remainder to be used to expand manufacturing and operations based in India.
Digantara’s revenue has grown more than 10 times in the past two years, Sharma said, but declined to disclose current figures. He added that the company is targeting annual revenue of $25 million to $30 million over the next 18 months as defense and government efforts ramp up.
The startup currently employs around 125 people, including around 80-85 engineers.
