Deepinder Goyal’s LAT Aerospace Enters Defence: Why Zomato’s Founder Just Bought Sharang Shakti (February 2026)
Key Takeaways
- The Acquisition: LAT Aerospace, founded by Deepinder Goyal, has purchased defense robotics firm Sharang Shakti.
- High-Stakes Pivot: This marks Goyal's entry into the defense sector after stepping down from active leadership at Eternal.
- Indigenous Focus: The goal is to build sovereign anti-drone tech and next-gen aviation platforms from first principles.
- Strategic Tech: Sharang Shakti brings critical expertise in aerial threat mitigation and drone detection.
Deepinder Goyal has pivoted from food delivery to national security, with his aviation startup LAT Aerospace acquiring Gurugram-based defence robotics firm Sharang Shakti. This high-impact move, featured in our latest leadership news (February 2026), signals a massive capital shift into India's indigenous defense ecosystem.
Zomato Founder Swaps Food Delivery for Aerospace Defense
The silicon crown of Indian consumer tech is moving into the clouds. Deepinder Goyal, through his year-old venture LAT Aerospace, has officially entered the defence tech industry. The acquisition of Sharang Shakti represents a strategic bet on "dual-use" technology that serves both civilian and military needs.
“This is our first move toward building indigenous defence capabilities,” Goyal stated, emphasizing that civil aviation and defence share a common technology backbone. By bringing this robotics expertise in-house, LAT Aerospace plans to build foundational systems from scratch, reducing reliance on foreign tech.
Why Sharang Shakti is the Core Catalyst
Founded by IIT Delhi graduates, Sharang Shakti specializes in airspace surveillance and airborne threat mitigation. Their flagship products include anti-drone systems capable of detecting and neutralizing hostile UAVs using radar paired with kinetic-hit interception.
By absorbing this talent pool, LAT Aerospace is securing critical engineering depth in autonomy and perception. Goyal has already invested $20 million in the venture, and this acquisition is expected to accelerate the development of their proprietary navigation and autonomy stacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Deepinder Goyal's new venture is LAT Aerospace, an aviation startup focused on building indigenous civil and military platforms.
LAT Aerospace acquired Sharang Shakti to integrate defense robotics and anti-drone capabilities into its indigenous aviation ecosystem.
What’s Next: A New Era of Regional Air Mobility
The broader mission for LAT Aerospace remains the revolution of regional travel through Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. These planes are designed to operate from compact "air-stops" no bigger than parking lots, connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Goyal’s pivot signals a massive capital shift into India's burgeoning deep-tech and defence industrial base. As the Indian defence budget modernization surges, well-capitalized private players building sovereign hardware could redefine the nation's technological autonomy.