MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones
Why
in news : The Indian government is fast-tracking
the procurement of 87 MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones from
domestic manufacturers to enhance border surveillance along land and sea
frontiers.
- The project, worth over ₹20,000 crore,
is part of the Make
in India initiative to promote indigenous drone technology and reduce
reliance on foreign suppliers.
- The drones will have advanced
surveillance and combat capabilities, including real-time
intelligence, reconnaissance, and the ability to operate for over 30 hours at altitudes of at least
35,000 feet.
- A key requirement is that the drones must
be at least 60% indigenous.
- This is the first time
Indian companies have been tasked with supplying MALE drones; earlier,
they were sourced from an Israeli firm.
- All three armed forces, particularly the Indian Air Force,
will benefit from enhanced surveillance of the Eastern and
Western borders.
- Trials have been conducted to ensure that proposed designs meet
military requirements, and the project is nearing final Defence
Ministry clearance.
|
Name |
Origin |
Developer / Partner |
Status |
Endurance |
Altitude |
Weaponised |
Indigenous Content |
Key Notes |
|
Tapas
BH-201 |
Indigenous |
DRDO
– ADE |
Under
user trials |
~24–30
hrs |
~30,000
ft |
Planned |
~70% |
not yet fully production-ready |
|
Heron Mk I |
Foreign (Israel) |
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) |
Operational (IAF, Army) |
~35 hrs |
~35,000 ft |
No |
<20% |
Imported; backbone of India’s current MALE fleet |
|
Heron
TP / Mk II |
Foreign
(Israel) |
IAI |
Proposed
/ Upgrade |
~36
hrs |
~45,000
ft |
Yes |
<20% |
Weapon-capable;
not yet inducted |
|
MQ-9B Predator |
Foreign (USA) |
General Atomics |
Deal signed (2023) |
~40+ hrs |
~40,000 ft |
Yes |
N/A |
High-end HALE drone; 31 units for tri-services |
|
Archer-NG |
Indigenous |
DRDO |
Under
development |
~18–24
hrs |
Medium
altitude |
Planned |
~60% |
Lighter,
modern twin-boom UAV |
|
Adani-Hermes |
Hybrid (India-Israel) |
Adani Defence & Elbit Systems |
Proposed |
~30 hrs |
~30,000 ft |
Potential |
~60% |
Based on Hermes 900; part of private participation |
|
TASL
MALE UAV |
Indigenous |
Tata
Advanced Systems |
Proposed
/ Classified |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
Expected
~60% |
Under
Make in India; in competition |
|
Drishti 10 Starliner |
Hybrid (India-Israel) |
Adani Defence & Elbit Systems |
trials |
~36 hrs |
~30,000+ ft |
No (currently) |
~60% |
first indigenously manufactured |