Indigenous MALE Drones | 11 Jul 2025
India is accelerating the procurement of 87 indigenously developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, featuring at least 60% indigenous content, to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthen surveillance along its sea and land borders.
- This is the first instance of Indian private manufacturers being tasked to supply MALE drones under the Make in India initiative replacing earlier imports from Israel.
- These drones will offer over 30 hours of flight endurance at altitudes of up to 35,000 feet, providing ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) support in varied terrains.
India’s Indigenous Drones
|
Drone Name |
Key Features |
|
Lakshya |
Target drone for reconnaissance and target acquisition; rocket-launched, turbojet-powered. |
|
Nishant |
Multi-mission UAV; day/night capable; used for surveillance, target tracking, and artillery fire correction. |
|
RUSTOM-1 |
Short Range Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (SR-RPAS, 800 kg class); performs ISR, target acquisition, and image exploitation. |
|
TAPAS/Rustom-2 |
MALE UAV developed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) roles. |
|
Archer |
Weaponized short-range UAV; for reconnaissance, surveillance, and low-intensity conflict. |
Note: All the above mentioned drones have been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
| Read More: UAVs in Modern Warfare |