Digantara, an Indian space surveillance startup, has raised 50 million dollars in a new funding round. The company is expanding its focus beyond space situational awareness into missile tracking, citing growing government demand for space-based defense capabilities.
This all-equity Series B round included new investors such as 360 ONE Asset and SBI Investments of Japan, along with serial entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala. Existing backers Peak XV Partners and Kalaari Capital also participated. The funding comes more than two years after the startup’s 10 million dollar Series A round, bringing its total capital raised to 64.5 million dollars.
Globally, governments are investing more heavily in space-based surveillance and early-warning systems as missile launches and satellite interference become more frequent. Many seek faster detection than traditional ground-based radar can provide. Digantara aims to tap that market by using its space- and ground-based infrared sensors along with 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. It has since expanded its scope to include missile detection and tracking. This builds on the space- and ground-based sensing and analytics technologies it developed for space surveillance, according to founder and chief executive Anirudh Sharma.
Digantara launched its first space surveillance satellite, named SCOT, in January aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission, enabling space-to-space observation. A month later, the startup opened an office in Colorado Springs as part of its push into the U.S. defense market. This move has since led to contracts with U.S. Space Command for analytics-as-a-service. Its U.S. entity has also been selected for the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract vehicle, which supports next-generation missile defense programs.
The company has split its operations across geographies to meet national security requirements. Its U.S. team focuses on building larger satellites tailored to American defense needs, while its India operation concentrates on analytics, data processing, and space situational awareness. This structure reflects regulatory realities where sensitive systems must be designed and built domestically for each market.
Digantara has so far closed contracts with a combined value of about 25 million dollars. The startup currently operates across India, Singapore, and the U.S., and plans to expand into Europe by setting up a local entity there as early as 2026.
In India, Digantara operates a manufacturing facility capable of producing up to five satellites simultaneously. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Andhra Pradesh to set up a larger facility that could manufacture as many as 30 satellites at once, aiming to bring it online next year. The startup has already been selected as the winning bidder for government defense tenders in India and is completing administrative formalities before work begins.
Through 2026 and 2027, Digantara plans to expand its space- and ground-based infrastructure. This includes additional electro-optical and LiDAR satellites for space surveillance, space-based sensors for early missile warning and tracking, and a larger network of ground-based observatories. The company is also exploring the potential use of its LiDAR and laser technologies for future interceptor systems.
Digantara plans to launch another satellite through SpaceX in March, followed by additional launches in June and October. Multiple satellites are scheduled for the latter mission. The company aims to deploy a total of 15 satellites over the next two years.
The latest funding will support those launches, with about 7 to 10 million dollars earmarked for expansion in the United States and roughly 2 to 3 million dollars set aside to establish operations in Europe. The remainder will be used to scale its India-based manufacturing and operations.
Digantara has seen revenues grow more than tenfold over the past two years, though current figures were not disclosed. The company is targeting annual revenues of 25 to 30 million dollars over the next 18 months as defense and government work ramps up. The startup currently employs around 125 people, including roughly 80 to 85 engineers.