India Must Focus on Indigenous Drone Development for Self-Reliance

India’s military modernization requires indigenously designed and developed drones to ensure national security and autonomy. With recent UAV orders nearly complete, this is the ideal moment to establish a Indigenous drone ecosystem. While foreign drones meet some requirements, significant gaps remain in high-altitude long endurance category and low-cost tactical drone category. India’s defense strategy demands systems tailored to its unique operational conditions and strategic needs and imported solutions will not address the complete spectrum.

Avoiding the “Re-labeled” Trap: Building Truly Indigenous Drones for India’s Armed Forces

Some firms push drones under the “Make in India” label, yet these so-called indigenous drones often rely on foreign designs, with key components still manufactured abroad. This setup presents a long-term trap, as the Indian defense sector becomes dependent on foreign upgrades and subsequent models, each coming at a substantial cost. Without genuine domestic solutions, this cycle of dependency deepens, hindering India’s strategic autonomy.

Instead, India should prioritize creating a truly indigenous drone system by combining the technical expertise of DRDO with the manufacturing capabilities of private firms. Such a collaboration enables continuous upgrades, adapting systems as defense requirements evolve. This approach would provide Indian armed forces with a tailored, robust, and future-ready solution, reducing reliance on foreign components and ensuring sustained self-reliance in UAV technology.

The Critical Role of UAVs in Modern Warfare

UAVs have become essential in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat. For India, facing complex security challenges, drones offer critical advantages in border monitoring, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes. The Indian military categorizes UAVs based on altitude and endurance:

1. Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) – The drones that are designed for extended missions at medium altitudes upto 30,000 feet, powered by piston engines.
2. High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) – The drones that operate above 30,000 feet with nearly 24-hours of endurance, powered by turboprop engines.

The tri-service requirement was to procure an UAV that can attain an altitude of 30,000 feet and endurance of over 24 hours. This becomes tricky with piston powered UAVs. All the foreign UAV that India has acquired, fails to meet these requirements when they advertised specifications were way beyond. The Tapas UAV, developed by DRDO, shows promise but doesn’t fully meet these specifications. By focusing on indigenous drone development, India can close these gaps and address its unique strategic needs.

Three-Tiered UAV Spectrum for Comprehensive Defense

India’s defense needs require a three-tiered approach for different UAV categories, each serving specific roles. This strategy ensures a well-rounded UAV capability across various operational scenarios.

1. Short-Range Tactical Drones
   India needs low-cost, short-range tactical drones like the indigenous Archer model. These drones launch precision munitions, making them invaluable in combat scenarios. They are also affordable, so losses are financially sustainable. Conflicts worldwide demonstrate the effectiveness of tactical UAVs on the battlefield.
2. Mid-Range Strategic Drones
   India requires piston-engine drones for medium-range missions. These drones should reach 25,000 to 28,000 feet with 15 to 18 hours of endurance. The Tapas and proposed Archer NG models fit these specifications. A private-sector partner can speed production, making these UAVs readily available. These systems are ideal for moderate-risk missions, providing a high return on investment due to their lower cost.
3. High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) Drones
   India classifies drones above 30,000 feet as HALE, even though the U.S. considers them MALE. The recent MQ-9B acquisition provides temporary HALE capacity. However, India must use this breather to develop an indigenous HALE system.

Leveraging Domestic Expertise and Industry Innovation

India has the expertise and resources to build an indigenous drone program. DRDO offers substantial experience in defense technology and aerospace. Companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have experience developing aircraft such as the Dornier and HTT-40. Tata has also gained expertise with the C295 collaboration. The HALE requirement should be addressed with an Indigenously designed and developed system with bottom up approach. The emergency requirement is anyways met by the procurement of 31 units of MQ9B.

The capacity and know how for turboprop based aircraft and unmanned systems exists in country and these established capabilities can support a fully integrated drone program tailored to India’s unique defense needs. By collaborating with private-sector partners, the government can build a cost-effective UAV ecosystem aligned with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

Applying Lessons from Previous UAV Purchases

Foreign drones have often failed to meet promised specifications in Indian conditions. For example, previously acquired piston-powered UAVs underperformed in terms of endurance and altitude. Relying on imports can be expensive and unreliable. An indigenous program can overcome these challenges by developing drones suited to India’s diverse operational environments. With local expertise, India can produce drones that handle extreme conditions effectively, reducing dependence on foreign technology.

Building a Future-Ready Indigenous UAV Ecosystem

India’s recent drone acquisitions represent an important step in defense modernization. However, these temporary measures do not replace the need for a reliable indigenous drone supply chain. By leveraging DRDO, HAL, Tata, and other private entities, India can build a robust UAV program tailored to its strategic goals. Investing in indigenous UAVs now will strengthen India’s defense capabilities, enhance technological self-reliance, and ensure a secure, independent future in modern warfare.