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Pune Inc | ‘It is zero cost per kill’: As drone warfare rises, a Pune startup is building silent defence shield for India

The Pune-based company built a directed-energy weapon, an AI-powered laser sniper that will neutralise any incoming target at the press of a button.

4 min readPuneFeb 10, 2026 04:00 PM IST

Olee.space was founded by James Solomon and Suman Hiremath.

James Solomon, the co-founder of Pune-based company Olee.space, begins with a question, “What would you do if you were a commander of a post or at any defence establishment, and there is an attack by 100 swarming enemy drones? Would you send your 100 best soldiers out there or want a machine to go in and do the work?”

Solomon knows the answer, not only because it is obvious but also because his company has created it.

Olee.space, co-founded with Suman Hiremath, has built a directed-energy weapon (DEW), an AI-powered laser sniper that will neutralise any incoming target at the press of a button. “That, too, without sending in any kinetic weapons. This would not launch bullets in the sky. This would not put any missiles in the sky. It would be as silent as possible,” says Solomon. The DEW was recently tested and the company has an order to deliver it.

“The DEW is zero cost per kill. It costs $150,000 of a missile to neutralise the same target. Drones were not seen as a part of a threat five years ago, but now they are. It’s machine-to-machine warfare out there now, and India was not prepared. That’s the very part where we have come in. We are working to secure our armed forces,” says Solomon.

Olee.space is a photonics and defence equipment company that is harnessing the power of lasers. The company’s first product was the FSOC-Laser Communications, which it said spotted and solved a vital chink in the defence armour. “All communications happen two ways, through the fibre optic cables underground that are one step away from getting bombed, and through radio frequencies that get jammed. Your GPS is jammed, your radio frequencies are jammed. Everything is intercepted. You cannot send your secret messages,” Solomon says. The company’s laser-based device is the size of a laptop and can be carried in a backpack. “It works on solar power and does not get eavesdropped, jammed, or spoofed,” he says.

85% indigenous content

Though Olee.space was born in 2023, the work on the laser technology has required expertise of several years. “It has always been country first for us,” says Solomon.

The two pieces of equipment, which are leaders in their segments, have 85 per cent indigenous content, usually made in Pune. “Our industrial requirements get done by Chaken companies or other parts of Pune. We do not have to go outside,” says Solomon.

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The defence establishment has helped, from answering questions to testing at the Southern Command sometimes. Solomon says that the company is working on a third product in a completely different sector. “It is, again, a segment that is of a high focus and a product that has never been seen before at a commercial scale outside R&D. We will launch it in about four months,” he says.

How is it possible for a company to launch state-of-the-art products every few months? “It takes four-and-a-half years to five years of pure R&D to reach a place where we have the money or investments, just as a fuel, to build out of the books into an actual product. Work is underway for the next round. Investors who might turn up must know this,” he says.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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