To improve its surveillance, reconnaissance, and striking capabilities—especially in high-altitude areas and along disputed borders—the Indian Army is rapidly growing its fleet of domestic heavy-duty drones. This drive is in line with larger initiatives to increase defense technological self-reliance while tackling changing threats from rivals like China and Pakistan.
The Cai Hong-4, CH-5, CH-7, Wing Loong-II, and the stealthy Hongdu GJ-11 “Sharp Sword” are among the more than 2,000 excellent UAVs that are thought to be in China.
China is now the world’s biggest exporter of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and it has greatly expanded its supply of armed drones to Pakistan, especially the Wing Loong-II and CH-4 variants. According to estimates, Pakistan now owns between 150 and 200 drones, including the Turkish Bayraktar-TB2 and Akinci drones, thanks to this strategic alliance.
In the midst of increasing tensions with China, the Indian Army is actively improving its drone capabilities. The Heron Mark-I, Mark-II, and Searcher-II are among the roughly 50 Israeli-origin drones currently in service with the Army. Recently, four new Heron Mark-II satellites that can communicate
The Indian Army is aggressively working to create Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, and the Army, Air Force, and Navy as a whole need at least 150 additional units. This program is a component of a larger plan to improve domestic drone technological capabilities and lessen dependency on imports, especially from Israel.
A key component of India’s domestic UAV program is the Tapas drone (Medium Altitude Long Endurance), which was created by DRDO. The Armed Forces are incorporating Tapas into its fleets despite spite of obstacles, including as a 2023 crash that occurred during testing:
Capabilities include 350 kg cargo capacity, 250 km battle range, 30,000 feet altitude, and more than 24 hours endurance.
Deployment: For maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean and border surveillance between China and Pakistan.
Production: Within 24 months of the contract being signed, a joint venture between HAL and BEL hopes to produce 10 drones.
The first flight of DRDO’s Archer-NG, a sophisticated Tapas series derivative, is quickly approaching. It will be used in conjunction with the Army’s current Heron and Searcher-II drones and is designed for precision strikes.
Native kamikaze drones are being developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) with:
9-hour endurance, 25 kg payload, and 1,000 km range.
NAVIC navigation in situations where GPS is not available.
Under emergency procurement, four of these drones—of which 70% are indigenous—are being introduced. They are placed at Bhatinda to improve border security with Pakistan.
High-Altitude Focus: In September 2024, the Army’s HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2 demonstrated domestic solutions for operations in the harsh circumstances of Ladakh, with a focus on wind resistance and cold-weather performance.
In a contract for about ₹34,500 crore (about $4 billion), India will purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the US to strengthen its military capabilities. This deal, which was completed in October 2024, is a major step in strengthening India’s defense capabilities, especially given the country’s continuous border disputes with China and Pakistan.
DRDO is improving Tapas’ design to meet HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) requirements, even if it is not as high as the U.S. MQ-9B Predator (40,000+ feet).
For strategic operations, the Army looks for drones with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, an altitude of more than 30,000 feet, and a 24-hour endurance.
This multifaceted strategy demonstrates India’s resolve to lessen reliance on imports while using domestic innovation to meet operational demands.