ADITI 4.0 (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX)
Defence Innovation Organisation
📌 About the Challenge
ADITI 4.0 is the elite tier of the iDEX program, specifically targeting strategic, deep-tech, and high value frontier technologies. While regular DISC challenges focus on prototypes, ADITI aims for complex systems like humanoid robots, quantum radars, and autonomous tanks—that require significant R&D. Consequently, the funding is much higher to support the intensive development cycles involved.
ℹ️ Challenge Details
- Problem Statements: 25 critical challenges from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space.
- Focus: Deep-tech, Sovereign technology, and Frontier defense systems.
- Eligibility: Indian Startups, MSMEs, and Innovators with a high TRL (Technology Readiness Level) capability.
📅 Critical Timeline
- Technical Query Window: Closed on April 21, 2026.
- Final Submission Deadline: May 04, 2026
- Time: 05:00 PM IST (17:00 Hrs)
🏆 Grants & Funding
- Maximum Grant: Up to ₹25 Crore per project.
- Nature of Grant: Milestone-based and non-dilutive.
- Strategic Advantage: Winners gain high-level visibility and the potential for large-scale government procurement once the technology is matured.
🔍 Breakdown of ADITI 4.0 Challenges (1-25)
| Category | Highlights of Problem Statements |
| Land Systems (Army) | Autonomous T-72 Tanks, 155mm Guided Munitions, Humanoid Combatants, and Autonomous Load Carrier Trucks. |
| Naval Systems (Navy) | Sovereign Quantum Radar, Submarine Fibre Optic sensing, and Automatic Ammunition Feeding Systems for 76mm guns. |
| Air & Electronic Warfare | High-speed Expendable Aerial Targets (HEAT), Cognitive EW Systems, and Helicopter-mounted Counter-UAS. |
| Space & Advanced Tech | Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Panels, Miniaturized SAR/EO Payloads for satellites, and Space Domain Training tools. |
| Intelligence & Recon | AI-based OSINT Analysis and monitoring systems for social media stacks. |
📋 Strategic Insight: The Grant release
For a ₹25 Crore ADITI project, the funding usually follows the iDEX “SPARK” model but scaled:
- Tranche 1 (10%): On signing the agreement (Kick-off).
- Tranches 2-4 (Approx. 60-70%): Linked to technical milestones (Design freeze, Prototype V1, Lab testing).
- Final Tranche (20-30%): Upon successful User Trials (Armed Forces testing).