Indian Navy Contracts Coratia Technologies for Underwater Robots

The Indian Navy has signed a ₹66 crore contract with Odisha-based startup Coratia Technologies for the supply of indigenous Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (UWROVs). This agreement aims to enhance India's underwater capabilities and aligns with the government's 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

Coratia Technologies, incubated at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, will deliver and maintain these underwater robots. The UWROVs are designed for tasks such as ship hull cleaning, minor salvage operations, and inspections of submerged infrastructure. The contract follows Coratia's success in the iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) challenge in 2023, a Ministry of Defence initiative to promote homegrown solutions in the defence sector.

The Navy has already commissioned 'Jalasimha', Coratia's flagship UWROV, which has cleared Technology Readiness Level 9, certifying it for military operations. The UWROVs are also being used in various public and private sectors for dam and bridge inspections, ocean floor mapping, and monitoring marine ecosystems, highlighting their dual-use potential for both defence and India's blue economy.

In July 2025, Coratia Technologies raised ₹17.4 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by MGF Kavachh and backed by Pontaq Ventures India. The company plans to use the funds to expand R&D capabilities, build intellectual property, and increase exports amid rising global demand for underwater robotics.