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Published: March 31, 2026
Updated: March 31, 2026

Semicon, Defense RRP Group David Turning Goliath

Two years ago (April 30, 2024), we mentioned that the ‘newbie’ RRP group was taking on Goliaths like the Tatas and Murugappas in the rarefied world of semiconductors.

Today, the 35-year-old group, led by Rajendra Chodankar—a dynamic first-generation entrepreneur— is making significant strides in the industry, having established an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility in Maharashtra.

It has outlined an ambitious Rs. 24,000-crore roadmap encompassing semiconductors, defense equipment, and electronics. Firmly rooted in a patriotic vision, Mr. Chodankar is dedicated to reinforcing India’s defense capabilities. The company’s flagship Viraj longrange surveillance system saw successful deployment during operation Sindoor last year.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Mahape—an industrial suburb of Navi Mumbai, popularly known as “Second Mumbai”—the RRP Group, a relatively young industrial conglomerate, is steadily making its mark. Driven by a clear ambition to support India’s emergence as a high tech manufacturing hub under flagship government initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, the group is charting an impressive growth trajectory.

Helmed by Rajendra Chodankar, a far sighted and dynamic first generation entrepreneur, the group has established more than half a dozen corporate entities across core technology sectors. A pioneer in India’s semiconductor journey, the RRP Group has set up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility, placing the already industrially advanced state of Maharashtra firmly on India’s semiconductor map.

Backed by an ambitious Rs. 24,000 crore investment roadmap, the group is building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem— spanning advanced packaging to wafer fabrication—with the aim to evolve into a dynamic industrial conglomerate focused on semiconductors, defense, and electronics.

Mr. Chodankar, 64, is a technophile at heart. A gifted academic in his formative years, he was a standout student of chemistry and went on to earn a postgraduate degree in inorganic chemistry from the University of Mumbai. Yet, even early on, his curiosity extended well beyond the laboratory. Drawn by the promise of emerging technologies, he made a decisive shift into the world of electronics, joining a company focused on advanced analytical systems, spectrometry, and cutting edge technical upgrades with intellectual applications.

Widely recognised for his contributions in the electronics domain, Mr. Chodankar appeared poised for a steady corporate ascent. But the entrepreneurial spark proved irresistible. After nearly nine years in the company, he chose to chart his own course. In 1990, he founded RRP S4E Innovation Pvt Ltd—a technology consultancy with strong design capabilities in electro optics.

What began as a modest start up soon evolved into a hub of specialised innovation. The company ventured into the development of advanced medical devices, thermal imaging systems, and night vision technologies, including cooled and uncooled detector based thermal imagers and cameras. Products such as Aerem marked the early milestones of a journey that would later expand into some of India’s most critical strategic technology domains.

FLAG BEARER

Very soon, RRP S4E Innovation emerged as a leading player in electro-optics manufacturing, including design, development and deployment of electro-optics solutions for the Indian defence sector with a focus on night vision and surveillance equipment. Today, with a state-of-the-art nano machining facility, the company crafts mechanical and optical components with unmatched accuracy, setting an industry standard. Mr. Chodankar proudly says, “Mechanical components crafted by my company boast of a one-micron tolerance, and optical elements feature an exquisite 3 nm surface finish. These achievements have helped us redefine precision engineering. They are playing a vital role in space exploration, particularly in large telescopic mirrors as showcased in the MACE (Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment) project.”

He adds, “With a manufacturing capability of 25,000 units per month and a product portfolio that includes thermal sights, Drones and counter-drone systems as well as thermal imagery, we are comfortably placed to cater to diverse demands from offices, hospitals, hotels, and so forth.”

Mr Chodankar continues, “We set up this company with a clear vision – to strengthen India’s defense ecosystem through indigenous innovation in electro-optics and surveillance technology. What started as a small initiative with a passionate team has now evolved into a recognised defense manufacturing company with ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications, four patents and a strong R&D base in Navi Mumbai.”

Over the years, the company has developed and deployed a range of advanced solutions, including weapon sights, handheld thermal imagers and autonomous surveillance systems. Its flagship product, the VIRAJ LongRange Surveillance System, was successfully deployed during Operation Sindoor, proving its reliability under real-world operational conditions. “Today, RRP S4E stands as a proud contributor to India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, driving technological excellence and selfreliance in defence,” he notes with pride.

Pointing out that “our electro-optical department (EOD) and R&D division play a pivotal role by driving continuous innovation, design optimization and product enhancement,” Mr Chodankar adds, “Through in-house R&D and engineering excellence, we aim to strengthen India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative — offering cost-effective, reliable and scalable solutions tailored to India’s unique operational environments and defence requirements.”

Prominent companies of the RRP Group

RRP Electronics Ltd.

Established in 2024 in Navi Mumbai, RRP Electronics is the group’s flagship entity for semiconductor manufacturing. The company is planning expansion near Mumbai and has partnered with renowned international firms for advanced packaging (FOWLP— fan-out wafer-level packaging) and Meprolight (Israel) for defence electro-optics.

Mr Chodankar maintains, “RRP Electronics is Maharashtra’s first OSAT-focused semiconductor company, leading innovation with a commitment to precision sustainability and excellence. We are shaping India’s semiconductor future with world-class technology and trusted expertise.”

The company provides advanced OSAT services and end-to-end semiconductor solutions - ranging from chip packaging to electronic manufacturing. Mr Chodankar adds, “Our smart infrastructure and strict quality system ensure high-performance, reliable outcomes across industries.”

In the context of strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem, Mr. Chodankar adds, “Maharashtra’s first semiconductor company is driving self-reliance by building local capabilities and reducing dependency on global supply chains. The company also accelerates industry-wide innovation with cutting-edge OSAT services and smart manufacturing. RRP delivers high-quality semiconductor solutions that power advancements across the consumer electronics, automotive and industrial sectors. Again, through green energy practices, cleanroom infrastructure and automation, RRP Electronics is setting new standards in sustainable, high precision electronics production.”

RRP Defense Ltd

RRP Defense Ltd (BSE 530929) is a leading Indian defence manufacturing enterprise dedicated to driving the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India). Under the able leadership of Rajendra Chodankar, founder and chairman of the RRP group, the company has successfully pivoted from legacy trading to high-value, deep-tech defence production.

The RRP group had acquired a BSE-listed company - Euro Asia Exports — and renamed it RRP Defense Ltd. The company focuses on indigenising critical technologies such as electro-optics, thermal imaging and unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). Today, RRP Defense stands as the flagship defence arm of the RRP group, driving innovation and self-reliance in India’s defence and security sector. As the parent company, it overseas three specialised entities - RRP S4E Innovation ltd, RRP Drones Innovations Ltd and Vimananu Ltd - a joint venture between RRP Drones and CYGR of France, each contributing unique expertise in electro-optics, unmanned aerial systems and advanced drone technologies. RRP Defense has formed a strategic partnership with Israel’s Meprolight to advance India’s manufacturing capabilities in electro-optics and weapon sight systems.

The collaboration encompasses technology facilitation, targeting Indian military and law enforcement agencies and aligning with the ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Maintains Mr Chodankar, “This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing India’s defense manufacturing capabilities. The partnership focuses on delivering advanced electro-optics and weapon sight systems to the Indian market through comprehensive technology transfer and local manufacturing initiatives.”

The partnership between RRP Defense and Meprolight encompasses multiple dimensions of defense technology co-operation. The collaboration includes joint distribution and assembly operations, technology integration and future localisation of Meprolight’s advanced product line in India. Overall, the tie-up involves several critical elements designed to strengthen India’s defence ecosystem.

Leveraging partnerships with Meprolight (Israel) and CYGR (France/ US), RRP Defense provides battle-tested, high-performance solutions to the Indian armed forces. It uses synergies with RRP Electronics to incorporate indigenous semiconductor components, thus positioning itself to benefit from India’s expanding defence investments.

RRP Drones Innovation Ltd

A subsidiary of RRP Defense, RRP Drones Innovations is a specialised unmanned aerial systems company focused on the design, development and manufacture of advanced unmanned aerial systems. The company is in the forefront in introducing autonomous surveillance solutions to the Indian market.

The company is distinguished by its flagship ‘drone-ina-box’ technology, developed in partnership with Microavia (UAE), which enables fully autonomous patrolling and perimeter security for critical infrastructure. The company’s portfolio includes tactical drones, heavy-lift logistics platforms and in-house capabilities for manufacturing autopilots and payloads. In short, RRP Drones Innovation is dedicated to modernising India’s aerial security framework through indigenous innovation and strategic global alliances.

Vimananu Ltd

RRP Defense has joined hands with renowned French-American aerospace firm CYGR to form a joint venture styled Vimananu Ltd to take up the manufacture of drones under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Navi Mumbai.

According to Mr Chodankar, “This partnership aims to deliver advanced drones systems designed for tactical, surveillance and industrial use, leveraging French-American technology and Indian manufacturing capabilities.”

The JV specialises in manufacturing, repairing and operating advanced drones, radars and aeronautical equipment. It mainly focuses on producing indigenous, cost-effective UAVs for defense, surveillance and industrial use.

The company’s product portfolio includes high-performance drones, including fixed wing (hand launched), nano and intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones. Vimananu aims to pro- duce drones 30% cheaper than international bids, aiming for high local content in production.

Mr Chodankar says, “This corporate entity, which is a subsidiary of RRP Defense, is expected to generate skilled employment, support aerospace exports and enhance India’s strategic self-reliance in unmanned aerial systems. The letter of intent for global defence exports will be released very shortly, further reinforcing India’s emergence as a global leader in drone technology.”

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Clearly, by promoting over half-a-dozen companies, the RRP group has made rapid strides in sunrise tech segments like semiconductors and modern defence, besides making a mark in the electronics sector which has tremendous growth potential. The Union budget 2026- 27 marked a decisive moment for India’s technological ambitions with the announcement of ‘India Semiconductor Mission 2.0’. Mr Chodankar notes, “The new phase signals a clear policy push to deepen domestic semiconductor capabilities at a time when chips under pin every critical digital and industrial system. ISM 2.0 will focus on producing semiconductor equipment and materials in India, designing full stack Indian semiconductor intellectual property, and fortifying both domestic and global supply chains. A provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been made for ISM 2.0 for fiscal 2026-27, with a strong emphasis on industry-led research and training centres to drive technology development and create a future-ready skilled workforce. The RRP group plans to contribute its mite in this endeavour by setting the first semiconductor plant in Maharashtra, the number one industrial state in the country.”

Future prospects for the group are highly promising, viewed in the context of the robust outlook for the major industry sectors in which the group is engaged — semiconductors, defense and electronics, which are sunrise segments with tremendous growth potential. In the case of semiconductors, while demand is continuously on the rise throughout the world, these are not even half a dozen countries that are producing semiconductors, popularly known as chips. These chips are the backbone of modern telecommunications, automobiles, defense systems and Artificial Intelligence.

As India is moving towards emerging as an industrialised country, the demand for chips is rapidly rising. The size of the Indian semiconductor market was about $ 38 billion in fiscal 2022-23 and went up to $ 45- 50 billion in 2024-25; it is now expected to reach $ 100- 110 billion in 2030. The RRP group is expanding its capacities, anchored in the national vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made for the World’. In fact, the government intends to make India a global hub for semiconductors.

DEFENSE SURGE

As far as the the defense sector is concerned, the demand for defense equipment is rising fast as the global environment is vitiated with continuously rising geopolitical tensions. Almost all countries in the world are accumulating defense equipment to strengthen their safety and security. And in the case of electronics, the segment has tremendous growth potential.

Thus, the RRP group as a whole is all set to make rapid strides in its businesses, and investors have a lot of confidence in Mr. Chodankar’s technical expertise and administrative capabilities.