Loitering munitions delivered, forces to aim for indigenous long-range drones

New Delhi: Having received deliveries of domestically developed and produced loitering munitions, armed forces are now looking for indigenous long-range drones required for a variety of tasks – from intelligence gathering to offensive operations.

There is a substantial requirement for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones by the three armed forces that are seeking to replace imports by indigenous systems. In the past, these systems were imported from Israel and efforts by state-owned research organisations have not yet resulted in a viable option.

Sources said plans are underway to acquire MALE drones via the indigenous route that requires new weapons to be fully made in India, with at least one company submitting a development proposal. In the initial phase, a smaller number is likely to be ordered. The acquisition is likely to be a tri-services process and the drones will be acquired to meet the requirements of the Army, Air Force and Navy.

The forces have received a proposal from an Indian manufacturer. Sources said that Nagpur-based Economic Explosives Ltd has sent a proposal to design MALE drones.

The company has also created a first-of-its-kind runway and testing facility for long-range drones. With a length of 1.4 km, the runway and associated infrastructure is the biggest such dedicated facility in the private sector.