BBBS’s Vajra Sentinel System for IAF
Big Bang Boom
Solutions (BBBS) announced the successful delivery of the first lot of its Vajra Sentinel Systems, a next generation
counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS), to the Indian Air Force, marking a key
technological milestone in response to Operation
Sindoor. Big Bang Boom Solutions had secured an order worth over Rs. 200
crore in 2024 from the Indian Air Force and Indian Army.
Paras DSTL in JV with HevenDrones Israel
Paras Defence and Space Technologies has
announced a strategic joint venture with HevenDrones Israel that is recognised for its autonomous, hydrogen
powered and mission specific drones. The JV will establish a new entity in
India to design, manufacture and supply next generation drone systems tailored
for India's defence and homeland security landscape, with long term plans to
address global markets.
IG Drones and VoxelSensors join
forces
IG Drones, an Indian drone
technology company, has announced a strategic collaboration with Belgian
DeepTech pioneer VoxelSensors to integrate next generation 3D perception
systems into its UAV platforms. At the heart of this partnership lies the
integration of VoxelSensors’ SPAES (Streaming Perception for AI Enhanced
Systems) technology—renowned for its ultra-low latency and high-precision
spatial sensing—with IG Drones’ fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles.
DroneAcharya
tests Kamikaze drone
Indian Army recently conducted high altitude
FPV drone trials at an aerial elevation of over 12,500 feet MSL. This series of
trials marked the successful deployment of FPV drones in collaboration with
DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations, which specialises in custom UAVs and
solutions. The company successfully demonstrated its range of indigenously
developed drone variants, including 10-inch first-person view (FPV) drones and
optical fiber-enabled kamikaze drones. The open trials were conducted in
Uttarakhand at high altitudes, in adverse weather conditions, and in electronic
warfare (EW) environments.
Bharat
Forge in MoU for Aarok MALE
Bharat
Forge and French aerospace firm Turgis Gaillard have signed a memorandum of
understanding to jointly manufacture the Aarok Medium Altitude Long Endurance
(MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in India. Aarok is capable of operating at
altitudes between 10,000 and 30,000 feet and remaining airborne for up to 48
hours. Designed for long range surveillance and offensive operations, the UAV
carries a payload of over 1.5 tonnes and is integrated with command and control
systems to deliver real time tactical intelligence.
RVAG debuts new
products
Hyderabad based Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group (RVAG) unveiled
its latest defence and propulsion technologies at the 55th International Paris Air Show. From indigenous micro turbojet
engines to high performance kamikaze drones, the company's showcase reflected
“its expanding global footprint and deep commitment to India's defence self-reliance”.
Zuppa drone
MRO lab at Madras Regimental Centre
In alignment with the Indian Army
Chief's visionary call in November 2024 for "A drone for every
soldier" Dakshin Bharat Area, MRC in collaboration with Zuppa Geo Navigation
Technologies Pvt Ltd has taken up the
responsibility of establishing a Maintenance, Repair and Operations
(MRO) Lab at the Madras
Regimental Centre (MRC). This milestone comes in the wake
of Operation Sindoor, a mission that underscored the urgent
need for Indian soldiers not only to operate drones but to independently
maintain and troubleshoot them during active conflict scenarios.
ideaForge
in EP order from IA
ideaForge has secured a significant win through the emergency procurement route. The
order, valued at approximately Rs. 137
crore, has been placed by the Indian Army for its high performance
hybrid mini UAV systems, which are already battle tested and inducted
into the Army’s inventory for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance) operations. Owing to the sensitive nature of the
engagement with the armed forces, the company “is unable to disclose the actual
product name”.
Representational
photo of the Switch UAV
Nagastra-1R
LM for IA
The Indian Army
has placed an order with Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited to procure around
450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions (LM). The Nagastra-1R is a cost effective
system with full re-usability of launcher systems. The advanced loitering
munition system has a 360-degree gimbal camera, with the option of putting a
thermal camera for night operations. The system has proprietary encryption for
video and telemetry communication, comes with a high precision targeting system
with 2 metres CEP, and has more than 80% indigenous content. The systems have
been tested at various locations, including Ladakh and Babina near Jhansi in
Uttar Pradesh.
Raphe mPhibr raises $100 million in funding
Raphe mPhibr, an Indian defence
technology and aerospace startup, has raised $100 million in a funding round
led by General Catalyst. Founded almost a decade ago by siblings CEO Vivek
Mishra and Chairman Vikash Mishra, the Noida based startup designs and
manufactures a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the mR10
drone swarm platform, the mR20 high altitude logistics drone, Bharat (a man portable
surveillance drone), and X8 (a compact maritime patrol system).
TASL UAV portfolio just gets “bigger” and “better”
Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has expanded its range of
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), introducing additions in both loitering
munitions and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform
categories. The company’s latest UAV portfolio includes the ALS 50, ALS 250,
ALS 50 MkII and the IVTOL, each offering distinct operational strengths ranging
from surveillance and reconnaissance to precision strike capabilities.
ALS 50: A
vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV equipped with all-weather
Electro-Optical (EO) guidance for targeting and striking targets within a range
of 50 kilometres. The munition is capable of carrying a 5 kg HEPF (High
Explosive-Pre Formed) warhead suitable for soft-skinned vehicles, enemy
personnel, and light structures.
ALS 50 MkII: An
upgraded version of the ALS 50 with improved performance and features,
including payload, precision and avionics systems. It has undergone extensive
flight testing and leverages technology already in deployment. ALS-50 family
also has the capability to operate in contested and GPS denied environments,
possibly relying on visual based targeting.
ALS 250: A
long range loitering munition with a 250 km operational envelop, developed from
the ALS 50 platform. It incorporates an internal combustion engine and
conventional takeoff ability, unlike the ALS-50 that is battery operated and
features VTOL. It boasts enhanced capabilities for extended mission
requirements and also the ability to conduct operations in high altitude
regions with a service ceiling of 10,000 ft.
IVTOL UAV: A fixed-wing VTOL surveillance drone designed for operations in
unprepared environments. It offers over 20 km of operational range and more
than 120 minutes of endurance, making it suitable for extended deployments.
Equipped with advanced electro-optical/infrared (EOIR) sensors, the IVTOL
provides high quality day and night surveillance, enabling real time
intelligence gathering in diverse operational conditions.
In recent years, India has witnessed a significant shift in its
approach to precision strike capabilities, with loitering munitions emerging as
a critical force multiplier across services. The Indian Armed Forces can be
observed increasing the procurement of these systems, recognising their utility
in engaging targets, especially along contested borders and in
counter-insurgency operations. In the recent Operation Sindoor, loitering
munitions played a key role in conducting Strike and Suppression of Enemy Air
Defence (SEAD) missions.
