Modern warfare is changing at an incredible pace, with advanced technology transforming the way battles are fought and won. Drones have become a game-changer in this evolution, offering remarkable precision, efficiency, and flexibility. Recognizing these shifts, the Indian Army is leading the charge by incorporating drones into its operations. This strategic move reflects its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance national security and maintain tactical superiority.
Use of Drones to Meet Military Requirement by Indian Army
Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Blessed with enormous diversity, there is a critical requirement for effective and superior monitoring systems for surveillance/reconnaissance in the rugged terrain of India especially in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas and dense forests of the North-eastern region.
Tactical Support in Combat
To increase combat efficiency, the Indian Army is increasingly employing drones having high-grade targeting systems- giving themselves the capability to detonate a threat within an area, with minimal risk for collateral damage; making these drones accurate in counter-insurgency operations.
Logistics and Supply Chain
At extreme altitudes and remote places such as Ladakh and Siachen, drones are echoing a logistics revolution that will bring troops stationed there with what they need in a sound box, providing timely support where conventional means might fail.
Electronic Warfare and Jamming:
Today’s drones are equipped with electronic warfare systems, which can intercept communications, blind enemy radar, and jam signals — providing a huge advantage in the field.
Development and Humanitarian Aid
Aside from combat, the Indian Army also uses drones for search-and-rescue operations during natural calamities. Quick and accurate surveying of impacted areas by rescue robots greatly aids the organization of relief efforts
A Paradigm Shift in Warfare
With drones offering unparalleled capabilities in reconnaissance, logistics, and combat, the Indian Army is poised to enter a new era of military operations.
Let us take an in-depth look into the UAVs of the Indian Army:
IAI Heron
The IAI Heron UAV, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has been extensively deployed and utilized by various nations worldwide, making it one of the most successful Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) drones.
Primary Use: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).
Technical Specifications:
- Payload Capacity: Around 250–470 kg.
- Endurance: Up to 52 hours.
- Range: 1,000–3,000 km, depending on configuration.
- Equipment: MOSP3000 Electro-optical cameras, EL/M2055 airborne ground surveillance radar and ELK 7071 communications intelligence/direction-finding system.
- Weapons Capability: Not armed; designed solely for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
Deployment:
Used by Israel extensively for ISR missions. Played a pivotal role in conflicts in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Lebanon. The Heron provided real-time intelligence during the 2006 Lebanon War.
Widely used by the Indian Armed Forces for ISR along the borders and counter-insurgency operations in Ladakh, the LoC and the Northeast.
- Doklam Standoff (2017): The UAV monitored the Chinese troop movements in the Himalayan Region.
- Ladakh (2020): Again, in a standoff with China, the Heron provided critical intelligence, tracking troop buildups and infrastructure developments across the border.
Purchase Cost: $20–30 million per unit.
Maintenance: Requires regular inspections, servicing and advanced spare parts, adding 20%-40% of the lifecycle cost annually.
Lifecycle: 15–20 years with periodic upgrades
Heron TP (Eitan): The Silent Predator
Classified as a High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UAV, the Heron TP, made by Israel Aerospace Industries has been a game-changer in several conflict zones around the world, including the Middle East, where it has been used for counter-terrorism operations and precision airstrikes. For the Indian Army, the Heron TP is a perfect fit for cross-border surveillance (LoAC) and high-stakes combat missions.
Primary Use: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: Can carry up to 1,000 kg, including missiles, sensors, and cameras.
- Endurance: Flies for more than 30 hours, making it perfect for long-range missions.
- Range: 7,400 km—capable of deep-penetration missions.
- Equipment: thermographic camera (infrared), visible-light airborne ground surveillance systems (COMINT and ELINT)
- Weapons capability: Precision-guided munitions including air-to-ground missiles and bombs
Real-world Experience:
- During its deployment by the Israeli Defence Forces, the Heron TP was used extensively for ISR and targeted strikes against militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Its long endurance made it invaluable in monitoring hostile territories over extended periods.
- The Indian Army deployed the drones in September 2023 to flush out terrorists from Lashkar-e-Toiba responsible for an attack that led to the sacrifice of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Dhonchak and J&K Deputy SP Humayun Bhat
Purchase Cost: $30–40 million per unit.
Maintenance: Requires regular servicing and advanced spare parts, adding 15% of the purchase cost annually.
Lifecycle: 15–20 years with periodic upgrades
Rustom-II: India’s Indigenous Ace
The Rustom-II, designed by the DRDO, represents India’s push toward self-reliance in defence technology. While it may not have seen as much action as some foreign-made drones yet, it’s steadily proving its worth.
Primary Use: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: 350 kg, including electro-optical sensors and synthetic aperture radar.
- Endurance: 12 hours—ideal for round-the-clock surveillance.Range: Around 180-200 km, with future upgrades aiming to extend this significantly.Equipment: COMINT, ELINT, Maritime patrol radar, Synthetic aperture radar, medium-range electro-optic, long-range electro-optic, Stealth (3mm of Kevlar and CFC on the airframe)
- Weapons capability: Helina AGTM and laser-guided rockets can be equipped
Real-world Experience:
- Rustom-II has not yet been deployed in active combat scenarios and reconnaissance missions but has been tested extensively reaching altitudes of 25,000 feet with 10 hr endurance; which underscores its potential for border surveillance and tactical operations
Purchase Cost: $5–6 million per unit, significantly cheaper due to domestic manufacturing.
Maintenance: Costs are 20–30% lower than imported drones due to indigenous supply chains.
Lifecycle: 12–15 years.
SWITCH Drone: The High-Altitude Workhorse
Sometimes, the best things come in small packages. The SWITCH drone, developed by Indian startup IdeaForge, is lightweight, portable, and incredibly versatile.
Primary Use: Logistics, ISR
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: 6 kg, typically equipped with surveillance cameras.
- Endurance: 2 hours—a lot for a small drone.
- Range: 15 km and a max operating altitude of 1km above ground level, making it ideal for tactical missions.
- Equipment: Swappable payload- day payload with 25X zoom capabilities and a thermal imaging night payload, simple waypoint-based navigation.
Real-world Experience:
During the standoff with China in Ladakh (2020), the Indian Army placed orders for more drones. Mumbai-based IdeaForge won the tender and their SWITCH drones proved invaluable. They provided the Army with real-time visuals of troop movements in the region’s unforgiving terrain.
The SWITCH is also a logistical marvel. It is compact and easy to operate, which means soldiers can carry it and launch it anywhere, even in high-altitude areas like Siachen.
Purchase Cost: $50,000 per unit.
Maintenance: Minimal, with costs mainly for battery replacements and camera repairs.
Lifecycle: 5–7 years.
MQ-9 Reaper: The Hunter-Killer
The MQ-9 Reaper, often referred to as a “hunter-killer,” is one of the most advanced drones in the world. Manufactured by General Atomics, it is a favourite of the US military and has seen extensive combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: Can carry up to 1,700 kg, including missiles and bombs.
- Endurance: 27 hours, making it perfect for persistent surveillance.
- Range: 1,850 km, with satellite control enabling global operations.
- Equipment: Electro-optical/Infrared, Lynx Multimode radar, electronic support measures, 161 embedded global positioning and inertial navigation systems, 35 L3 Rio Grande communications and intelligence sensor suites.
Real-world Experience:
- The MQ-9 Reaper has been the backbone of US counter-terrorism operations. It famously took out Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020 with a pinpoint airstrike. This level of precision and lethality is unmatched, making the Reaper a coveted asset for any military.
- The Indian military has begun acquiring MQ-9 drones, including the SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian models, through a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the U.S. While they have not seen significant combat yet, these drones are expected to improve India’s surveillance and precision strike capabilities.
Purchase Cost: $32 million per unit, plus additional costs for missiles and sensors.
Maintenance: High, due to imported parts and sophisticated systems.
Swarm Drones: A Flying Army
Swarm drones are the future of combat. Imagine dozens of small drones flying together like a flock of birds, each with a specific role—some conduct surveillance, others jam enemy communications, and the rest attack targets.
Technical Specifications:
- Operates as a coordinated unit using AI.
- Payload varies depending on mission type.
- Low-cost and highly versatile.
Real-world Experience:
- Swarm drones made headlines in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where Azerbaijan used them to devastating effect against Armenian forces. They overwhelmed traditional air defences, proving that numbers and intelligence can beat brute force.
- India is developing its swarm drone capabilities in collaboration with NewSpace Research, a Bengaluru-based startup. The goal? Create a swarm system that can disrupt enemy defences and conduct precision attacks simultaneously.
Purchase Cost: Varies, typically $1–2 million for a swarm of 10 drones.
Maintenance: Relatively low, as individual drones can be repaired or replaced easily.
Lifecycle: 7–10 years, depending on usage intensity.
DRDO Aura (Ghatak): The Stealth Warrior (Under Development):
The DRDO Aura (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft) is India’s indigenous effort to develop a stealth UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle). Though still under development, it promises cutting-edge technology and represents India’s entry into the stealth drone category. It is designed for deep-penetration strike missions in hostile territories.
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: Estimated 1,000–2,000 kg.
- Endurance: 5–6 hours (designed for strike missions).
- Range: 2,000–3,000 km.
- Features: Stealth design with low radar cross-section, internal weapon bays.
Also Read, Understanding AURA UCAV Programme
Real-world Combat Experience: None yet. However, it is being developed with the intent to conduct deep-penetration surgical strike missions in contested airspaces evading radar detection, akin to the U.S. MQ-25 and X-47B.
Manufacturer: Developed by DRDO in collaboration with HAL and ADA.
Purchasing cost: $50- $70 million per unit (estimated)
Lifecycle: 20 years (expected)
Trinetra UAV: The Multipurpose Eye
The Trinetra UAV, developed by BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited), is a versatile drone designed for a variety of roles, from surveillance to target acquisition.
Primary usage: Tactical reconnaissance and intelligent missions
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: Electro-optical sensors, laser designators.
- Endurance: 10–12 hours.
- Range: 150 km (approx.)
- Features: 8 cameras (6 for obstacle navigation, enabling autonomous operations and 2 thermal cameras for target detection behind obstructions), IR/EO image analyser, Automated Multilayer Echelon Controller, Atomic clock based GNSS Receiver
Real-world Combat Experience: None yet, however, will enhance the surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the Indian Army with its autonomous flight capabilities.
Purchasing cost: $500,000- $700,000 per unit
Lifecycle: 12-15 years
Harpy: The Kamikaze Drone
The Harpy, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries as a Fire-and-Forget missile, is a loitering munition designed to locate and destroy enemy radar systems.
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: 32 kg warhead.
- Endurance: 6 hours.
- Range: 500 km
- Features: State of the art Anti-Radiation seeker with wide RF coverage, vertical attack capability (max lethality), autonomous operation
Real-world Combat Experience:
- Harpy drones have proven their worth in real-world conflicts with their ability to disable enemy air defence systems, including skirmishes in Lebanon, where Israel deployed them with great success.
- To counter potential threats from Pakistani and Chinese radar systems, India has acquired Harpy drones which play a key role in the country’s strategy to suppress enemy air defences, strengthening its tactical capabilities in critical scenarios.
Purchasing cost: $4 million per unit
Lifecycle: 10-15 years
DRDO Netra: The Urban Scout
The DRDO Netra, developed in collaboration with IdeaForge, is a lightweight UAV ideal for urban surveillance and disaster management.
Primary Usage:
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: 1.5 kg (3lb) carbon fibre composite structure
- Endurance: 30 minutes.
- Range: 2.5 km.
- Equipment: High-resolution CCD Cameras and/or thermal cameras
- Feature: VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) capability, easy to deploy.
Real-world Combat Experience:
In 2013, the Netra drones were deployed for disaster rescue operations during the North India floods.
The real-time video feed helped the Indian army locate hundreds of survivors with precision in Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Netra drones have also been used extensively for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Their small size and portability make them ideal for urban environments.
Manufacturer: Jointly developed by DRDO and IdeaForge.
Purchasing cost: ₹1.5- ₹5.5 million per unit
Lifecycle: 5-7 years
Searcher: The Reliable Workhorse
The Searcher UAV, another product of Israel Aerospace Industries, is a MALE drone widely used by the Indian Armed Forces for surveillance.
Technical Specifications:
- Payload: 68–100 kg.
- Endurance: 18 hours.
- Range: 300 km (approx.)
Real-world Combat Experience:
Used extensively by the Israeli Defence Forces for surveillance missions. The Searcher was deployed during conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, providing real-time intelligence.
Deployment in India: India has been operating the Searcher drones since the early 2000s for border surveillance.
Manufacturer: Solar Industries India, in collaboration with global partners.
Purchasing cost: $500,000 per unit
Lifecycle: 15-20 years
Rooster: The frontline multitasker
Indigenously made in collaboration between Rashtriya Raksha University, Hyderabad-based Brane Services and the Indian Army, the Rooster can roll as a robot and fly as a drone. Developed as an advancement over the Quadcopter, each Rooster is enclosed in a frame that allows it to operate as a standard rotary wing aerial vehicle and a loitering robot on the ground.
Primary usage: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Technical Specifications:
- Payload:300 g payload capacity
- Range: 400 m, but using a relay it can be extended to 1200 m
- Endurance: Designed for tactical flexibility in short-range operations
- Equipment: Six high-resolution cameras for obstacle detection and navigation, two thermal cameras for low-light operations and concealed target detection
Real-world Combat Experience:
These drones are still under development and have not been exposed to any combat scenarios. Field trials are done by the Indian Army, testing the drones out in rugged conditions to assess their durability. Based on the Army’s feedback, improvements will be made to hardware and software.
The manufacturing and maintenance cost along with the lifecycle of this drone is not mentioned explicitly in open sources. But similar military drone programs have an average lifecycle of 8 years.
Black Hornet: The Silent Sentinel
Developed by Norway-based Prox Dynamics AS, the Black Hornet Nano Drone is a state-of-the-art micro drone used by the Indian Army for surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.
Technical specifications:
- Dimensions: Measuring 16 cm by 2.5 cm, this drone weighs around 18 g (with battery)
- Range: 2 km (max.)
- Endurance: 20-25 mins
- Equipment: Three electro-optical cameras (facing forward, 45 degrees downward and straight down) with long-wave infrared and day video sensors
Real-world Combat Experience:
Inducted in 2018, the Black Hornets augment NSG squad and small unit-level surveillance and recon capabilities. The Indian Army has deployed these drones to monitor conflict zones and patrol the Line of Control (LoC). Internationally, the black hornets have proven invaluable in NATO-led operations including those in Afghanistan, where its ability to provide situational awareness without exposing soldiers to danger was critical.
Nagastra-1: Suicide Drone
Indigenously developed by Solar Industries India in partnership with Z-Motion Autonomous Systems Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, the Nagastra-1 is a precision loitering munition drone designed for neutralising hostile threats with GPS-enabled precision strikes with an accuracy of under 2 m.
Primary usage: Precision Strike Loitering Munition
Technical specifications:
- Weight: 9 kg
- Range: 15 km in man-in-loop mode, 30 km in autonomous mode
- Endurance: 60 mins
- Equipment: day and night surveillance cameras
- Weapons: 1 kg high-explosive fragmenting warhead
Real-world Combat Experience:
None yet. The Indian Army received its first batch of 120 Nagastra-1 after placing an order for 480 pieces. This drone can be retrieved safely with its inbuilt parachute recovery system in case of a mission abortion on command.
Purchase Cost: $70,000 per unit
Lifecycle: 7–10 years, depending on usage intensity
India’s Focus on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
India’s geopolitical position requires maintaining vigilance to counter terrorism and maintain internal security across the vast, complex terrain it houses:
Mountainous Northern Borders: Requires strict monitoring of the LoAC with China following the 2020 Galwan Clashes.
Western Desert and Plains: Vigilance of the LoC with Pakistan where infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations are persistent
Indian Ocean Region: With the growing focus on the Indian Ocean region, India needs to safeguard Exclusive economic zones, monitor trade routes and chokepoints caused by the movements of adversarial naval forces
The Road Ahead
The Indian Army is not just using drones; it is building a drone ecosystem. Mixing imported technology with its own innovation creates a powerful, affordable, and future-proof arsenal. While imported drones like Harpy and M-9 Reaper have proven reliability; indigenous systems like Rustom-II, Aura and Netra show India’s intent to become a drone manufacturing hub.
With plans to integrate AI and autonomy, the Army is pushing the limits of what drones can do. The next phase of the war is not just about firepower; but intelligence, adaptability and precision.
And drones are leading the way.
