The Indian Army is urgently seeking to upgrade its fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) amid ongoing border tensions with China, as its current Israeli- sourced drones age and fail to meet modern operational demands. The Army has set ambitious specifications for new Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs, emphasizing the need for indigenous development under the Make in India initiative. Despite challenges faced by domestic projects like the Tapas BH-201 and Archer NG, the Army is calling on the private sector to innovate or partner with foreign firms to meet these pressing requirements. This move reflects India’s commitment to enhancing self-reliance in defense technology while strategically strengthening its surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control.
