India Approves ₹30,000 Crore Contract for Indigenous MALE Drones
In a significant advancement for India's drone manufacturing industry, the Defence Ministry has sanctioned a contract worth ₹30,000 crore for the acquisition of 87 medium altitude long endurance (MALE) drones, which are to be produced domestically. This agreement, approved by the Defence Acquisition Council led by Rajnath Singh, is designed to strengthen India's capabilities in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike operations.
The contract will be divided between two Indian companies, each of which will establish separate production facilities to meet both local and export demands. The distribution of the contract will follow a 64:36 ratio, favoring the lowest bidder as the primary contractor with the larger share.
The armed forces are anticipated to soon release an expression of interest, calling upon companies to partake in trials preceding the final commercial discussions. According to the contract stipulations, the chosen companies are required to manufacture aerostructures and essential components locally, assemble and test engines within India, and produce critical systems such as electro-optical payloads and satellite communication equipment domestically to maintain a secure supply chain.
Officials assert that this strategy will not only hasten drone production but also establish India as a formidable exporter in the international UAV market, with the dual-facility approach allowing for quick scaling of production when necessary.
