LAT Aerospace, a new venture from Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal and former COO Surobhi Das, has officially acquired defence robotics startup Sharang Shakti. This strategic acquisition marks the company's inaugural step towards building indigenous capabilities across both civil aviation and defence sectors. The move signals a significant new entry into India's high-technology manufacturing landscape, blending entrepreneurial agility with national strategic goals.
A Strategic Synergy of Civil and Defence Tech
The acquisition of the Gurugram-based startup is LAT Aerospace's first major corporate action, underscoring its ambitious dual-focus strategy. The company’s vision is to develop a shared technology stack that can be deployed for both commercial and military applications. This approach leverages common principles in autonomy, navigation, and control systems to create versatile and efficient platforms.
Company co-founder Deepinder Goyal explained the rationale, noting the deep interconnection between civil and defence technologies. He stated that while the sectors are often viewed separately, they share a core technological foundation. The acquisition is designed to internalize these critical capabilities and build them from first principles for future programs.
Introducing the Key Players
Sharang Shakti, the acquired entity, is a promising defence robotics firm founded in 2023 by four graduates from IIT Delhi. The early-stage startup recently secured approximately $600,000 in seed funding to advance its development efforts. Its backers include prominent venture capital firms such as AUM Ventures and Venture Highway.
The acquirer, LAT Aerospace, was established in early 2025 by the two former Zomato executives with a clear vision for the aerospace industry. The company launched with a substantial initial investment of $20 million from Goyal himself. It has already established a 50,000-square-feet research and development facility in Gurugram to build key components in-house.
Charting a Course for Regional Aviation
Beyond its defence ambitions, LAT Aerospace's primary mission in the civil sector is to enhance regional air travel within India. The company is focused on developing an eight-seater, low-cost aircraft designed for short takeoff and landing (STOL). This innovative aircraft aims to make air travel more accessible by connecting smaller towns and remote areas.
The company is making tangible progress towards its goals, setting up advanced in-house labs for powertrains and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems. To fuel its expansion and accelerate development, LAT Aerospace is also reportedly in talks to raise an additional $50 million in seed funding. This new capital will be crucial for scaling its research and manufacturing operations.
Implications for India's Tech Ecosystem
This development holds broader significance for India's industrial landscape, marking a notable entry of tech entrepreneurs into the capital-intensive aerospace sector. The move could inspire greater private-sector participation and innovation in a field traditionally dominated by state-owned enterprises. It highlights a growing trend of leveraging software and robotics expertise to solve complex engineering challenges.
In conclusion, the acquisition of Sharang Shakti by LAT Aerospace is far more than a simple business transaction. It represents a calculated move to create a vertically integrated technology powerhouse with a foothold in both commercial and defence markets. This venture is poised to redefine India's aerospace capabilities by championing indigenous innovation and dual-use technology.