Sanlayan Technologies Revenue Growth in Aerospace and Defence
Aerospace and defence startup Sanlayan Technologies has marked a significant increase in its revenue for FY26, achieving profitability during this period. The company’s operating revenue surged 5.6 times year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 125 crore in FY26, up from Rs 22 crore in FY25, as indicated in its consolidated annual report reviewed by Startup Superb. Founded in 2023 by former Zetwerk employees Abhijit Kothawale, Rohan Gala, and Rahul Vamsidhar, Sanlayan focuses on developing electronic systems tailored for the aerospace and defence industries, including radar, electronic warfare, and avionics. The company operates a diverse portfolio of technology businesses.
The primary source of revenue for Sanlayan was the sale of electronic systems in FY26. Additionally, the company generated Rs 3 crore as other income, bringing total revenue to Rs 128 crore in FY26, up from Rs 24 crore the previous fiscal year. Noteworthy clients of Sanlayan include HAL, BEL, DRDO, the Indian Armed Forces, and various private defence system integrators. Its product offerings encompass radar, electronic warfare, avionics, power electronics, and mission-critical embedded systems.
A press release revealed that Sanlayan Technologies concluded FY26 with an order backlog of Rs 286 crore and a confirmed pipeline of opportunities exceeding Rs 2,000 crore, as many of its defence programmes transitioned from development stages to series production. Recently, the company secured a production order worth over Rs 70 crore for the Uttam AESA Radar programme, along with development orders for DRDO’s advanced drone detection radar and electronic warfare systems for unmanned platforms.
Cost Management and Profitability
On the financial management side, material costs climbed nearly fourfold to Rs 43.24 crore in FY26 from Rs 10.9 crore in FY25, making up roughly 43% of the total expenditures. Employee benefit costs also rose by 4.4 times to Rs 39.51 crore during the same period. Overall, Sanlayan’s total expenditures reached Rs 104 crore in FY26, compared to Rs 29 crore in FY25.
This significant revenue growth enabled the company to achieve profitability, reporting a profit of Rs 25 crore in FY26, contrasting with a loss of Rs 4 crore in FY25. The return on capital employed (ROCE) stood at 8.04%, and the EBITDA margin improved to 20.54%. Sanlayan’s operating revenue in FY26 was generated at a unit cost of Rs 0.83 for each rupee earned.
Expansion of Capabilities
According to the company, Sanlayan is in the process of enhancing its manufacturing and technological capabilities. It recently inaugurated a 20,000 square foot facility in Bengaluru’s Electronic City specifically for its radar and electronic warfare operations and has onboarded over 100 engineers specialized in systems engineering, RF, and AI/ML. The firm has also created an anti-submarine warfare transmitter that is currently undergoing trials, potentially unlocking an additional Rs 1,500 crore opportunity beyond its existing project pipeline.
Sanlayan’s remarkable growth followed a funding round last year where it raised Rs 186 crore, approximately $22 million, led by Jungle Ventures. This funding round valued the company at Rs 567 crore, marking a 4.5 times increase in valuation. As per the filings, Jungle Ventures holds the largest share in Sanlayan, with a 23.3% stake. Investors Ashish Kacholia and RBA Finance each possess a stake of 5.74%, while co-founders Abhijit Kothawale, Rohan Gala, and Rahul Vamsidhar collectively hold a 43.53% ownership in the company.