India’s IG Defence Partners with Oman’s MSA Global to Explore Joint Development of Advanced Drone and Counter-Drone Systems

India’s growing private defence sector has taken another step towards international expansion as Noida-based defence technology company IG Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman-based MSA Global LLC to explore the joint development and localisation of advanced defence systems.

The agreement was exchanged in Muscat during the India-Oman Defence Industry Cooperation Seminar held on October 26–27, 2026. The proposed partnership is aimed at strengthening defence industrial cooperation between the two countries while exploring opportunities to manufacture and develop indigenous Indian defence technologies in Oman for the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The collaboration will focus on three indigenous platforms developed by IG Defence: KAL, BAJ and JWALA. These systems represent the company’s capabilities in unmanned aerial technology and emerging counter-drone solutions.

KAL is a long-range, one-way attack unmanned aerial system (UAS) with a stated operational range of up to 1,000 kilometres. BAJ is an unmanned aerial interceptor designed to address threats posed by hostile unmanned aircraft systems, while JWALA is a micro-missile system under development for counter-drone operations.

Through this proposed partnership, both companies will explore the possibilities of adapting these technologies for regional requirements, establishing local manufacturing capabilities and combining India’s defence engineering expertise with Oman’s industrial infrastructure.

The agreement comes at a time when unmanned aerial systems are becoming an increasingly important part of modern military operations. The growing use of drones in surveillance, reconnaissance and combat missions has also increased the demand for effective counter-unmanned aircraft systems. As a result, countries across the Gulf region are looking at advanced technologies to strengthen their security and defence capabilities.

For India, the collaboration provides an opportunity to expand the international presence of its private defence manufacturers. Indian companies are increasingly looking beyond the domestic market to establish global partnerships, develop export opportunities and participate in international defence manufacturing projects.

The MoU was exchanged between Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder and CEO of IG Defence, and Colonel M. S. Atwal (Retd.), Chairman of MSA Global LLC. The event was facilitated by the Department of Defence Production under India’s Ministry of Defence in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Speaking about the partnership, Sanghapriya highlighted the company’s ambition to take Indian-developed defence technologies to international markets through strategic industrial collaborations. He emphasised the importance of combining India’s technological capabilities with Oman’s manufacturing strengths to develop defence solutions with wider global relevance.

The proposed collaboration also aligns with Oman’s interest in strengthening its domestic defence industrial ecosystem and developing greater local manufacturing capabilities. By exploring technology collaboration with Indian companies, Oman could expand its access to emerging defence technologies while supporting its broader industrial development objectives.

According to the Indian Embassy in Muscat, the 2026 India-Oman Defence Industry Cooperation Seminar brought together more than 125 participants, including representatives from defence ministries and industry organisations. The Indian delegation included 24 representatives from 16 defence companies working across areas such as unmanned platforms, robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence, naval systems, advanced electronics and cybersecurity.

The signing of the MoU between IG Defence and MSA Global highlights the growing scope of India-Oman defence industrial relations. While the agreement currently focuses on exploring co-development and localisation opportunities, it creates a foundation for potential future cooperation in drone technology, counter-drone systems and advanced defence manufacturing.

If successfully developed, the partnership could strengthen India’s position as an emerging supplier of indigenous defence technologies while opening new industrial opportunities in Oman and the wider GCC market.