1. Surveillance & Reconnaissance Drones
- Heron MK-II (Israel): Long-range, high-altitude surveillance drone with real-time video.
- Switch UAV (IdeaForge): Lightweight, tactical drone for infantry use (used in Ladakh).
- Rustom-II / TAPAS BH-201 (DRDO): Indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone.
2. Combat Drones (UCAVs)
- Ghatak UCAV (Upcoming): India’s stealthy, jet-powered combat drone (under development by DRDO).
- Archer-NG: A weaponized version of TAPAS, with strike capability.
- US MQ-9B Predator: India signed deal to buy 31 high-end combat drones from the US.
3. Anti-Drone Systems
- DRDO’s D4 Anti-Drone System: Can detect, jam, and destroy enemy drones using lasers.
- Deployment: Used in border regions and major cities for counter-terror protection.
4. Drone Swarms
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Indian military developing AI-powered swarm drones for:
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Kamikaze attacks
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Surveillance
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Area domination
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Trials conducted by Indian Army & Air Force.
5. AI and Real-Time Analytics
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AI integration for:
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Target identification
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Automated patrol paths
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Autonomous strikes in test zones
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6. Indigenous Development Push
- Make in India initiative: Startups like Idea Forge, New Space, Tonbo Imaging contributing to military-grade UAVs.
- DRDO leading R&D for weaponized drones.
7. Loitering Munitions / Kamikaze Drones
- India testing SkyStriker and indigenous ALFA-S drones that explode on impact.
- Useful in surgical strikes and anti-terror ops.
8. Strategic Partnerships
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Collaborations with:
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Israel (IAI Heron upgrades)
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USA (Predator drones)
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France (technology support for combat drone R&D)
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9. Threats from Pakistan/China
- Pakistan uses Chinese Wing Loong II and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 for surveillance and possibly combat.
- Drone incursions have increased across LoC and Punjab border.
10. Drone No-Fly Zones & Civil Use Restrictions
- Military has strict no-fly zones over sensitive areas.
- Anti-drone tech deployed near borders, airports, and defense zones.