The Indian Navy has started the process of purchasing indigenous multi-copter surveillance drones to strengthen the security of its naval bases and other sensitive targets. The Defense Ministry has issued a Request for Information (RFI) in this regard. This is the first time that the Indian Navy is going to induct special surveillance drones to protect its bases on land. This procurement will be under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category, in which use of at least 50 percent indigenous content will be mandatory.
navy It wants drones that can conduct continuous aerial surveillance, detect suspicious activities immediately and provide real-time information to security forces.
Navy will be equipped with indigenous drones
According to the RFI, the drone will have state-of-the-art electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) cameras, which will be capable of monitoring both day and night. This camera will be able to monitor 360 degrees and keep an eye on more than 30 targets simultaneously.
The drone will be made capable of working in all weather conditions. Its flying capacity will be up to 2,000 feet, it will be able to fly at a speed of at least 40 knots, will monitor within a radius of 20 kilometers and will be able to fly for at least two hours at a time.
Apart from this, the drone will also have facilities like anti-jamming technology, automatic take-off and landing, safe return to home in case of loss of contact or low battery.
Navy will increase vigil from the sky
The Indian Navy has also asked for satellite-based geofencing, an encrypted datalink for a line-of-sight range of 30km and the ability to pass control between multiple ground stations during flight.
The Army had made a similar demand for drone-interception systems following cross-border drone incidents earlier this year, while the Navy had separately sought next-generation expendable aerial targets for live-fire training.
The Indian Navy already operates about 60 ship-launched spotter drones made by Mumbai-based Sagar Defense Engineering, which are used for anti-piracy and surveillance missions from warships, including INS Vikrant. This RFI will extend a similar concept to shore, to bases instead of ships.
The program comes under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to reduce dependence on imported defense equipment, and will add to the Navy’s growing fleet of indigenous unmanned systems.
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