India's defence technology landscape is set to witness a major milestone as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) outlines a bold vision for the Archer-NG (Next Generation) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Originally designed as a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform for intelligence gathering, the drone is being upgraded into a formidable multi-role combat system.
While the immediate goal is to perfect its surveillance capabilities, the ultimate roadmap will transform the platform into a heavily armed drone capable of destroying both surface and aerial threats.
Currently, the programme is working through Phase I of its developmental trials, which are projected to conclude between late 2027 and early 2028.
Spearheaded by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in collaboration with industry partners like Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the drone is presently focusing on proving its core flight systems.
This stage thoroughly tests the platform's ability to conduct long-range Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions using advanced electro-optical sensors, secure communication links, and highly accurate navigation systems.
Once this foundational testing is complete, DRDO intends to radically enhance the Archer-NG's firepower by arming it with the Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
Capable of flying at speeds up to Mach 4.5 with a strike range of approximately 110 kilometres, the domestically built Astra Mk1 will give the drone an unprecedented edge.
This ambitious leap will shift the Archer-NG away from standard surveillance and ground-attack duties, empowering it to engage enemy drones, helicopters, and conventional aircraft in mid-air.
Fitting a beyond-visual-range missile onto a MALE UAV unlocks entirely new tactical advantages for the armed forces.
Armed with the Astra Mk1, the Archer-NG will be able to perform high-stakes defensive operations, safely escort vulnerable transport aircraft, and help deny contested airspace to enemy forces.
It will essentially serve as a vital uncrewed asset that works seamlessly alongside traditional crewed fighter jets to secure the skies.
Before it masters air-to-air combat, the Archer-NG is already being primed for devastating ground strikes, boasting a weapons payload capacity of approximately 300 kilograms.
The drone is slated to carry a powerful mix of home-grown precision munitions, including the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) and the Helina Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), which can accurately hit targets up to 8 kilometres away.
Coupled with laser-guided rockets, these weapons will allow the platform to safely eliminate heavily armoured vehicles, frontline bunkers, and enemy infrastructure from stand-off distances.
To successfully manage this advanced and diverse arsenal, DRDO will equip the Archer-NG with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
This powerful sensor upgrade is absolutely crucial for operating in modern battlefields cluttered with heavy electronic jamming.
By integrating an AESA radar, the drone will be able to simultaneously detect and track multiple moving targets on the ground and in the air, providing the critical targeting data required to fire the Astra Mk1 missiles effectively.
