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In a significant move that could deepen India-Europe defence cooperation, a customized version of the Eurodrone has been offered to India.
The proposal, extended by Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), includes the potential for integrating technologies from India's indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programmes, creating a unique hybrid platform tailored to the nation's specific operational needs.
The offer has gained momentum following India's decision to join the Eurodrone programme as an observer in August 2024.
The programme for the advanced Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) drone is managed by OCCAR and led by major European defence firms, including Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation of France, and Italy's Leonardo.
This collaboration signals a strengthening of strategic ties, aligning with India's increasing focus on acquiring and developing sophisticated drone technology.
A key development in these discussions was a recent visit by a team from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to the Eurodrone manufacturing site near Munich, Germany.
During the visit, DRDO officials were given a detailed overview of the drone's modular design. This modern architectural approach allows for significant customisation, enabling components and systems to be replaced or upgraded with local technology.
This flexibility is particularly noteworthy as it opens the door for integrating innovations developed by the DRDO for its own UAV projects, such as the TAPAS (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201), formerly known as Rustom-II, and the next-generation Archer-NG.
While the TAPAS project has faced challenges in meeting altitude and endurance targets, the technology developed for it remains valuable and could find new applications within the Eurodrone framework.
The Eurodrone is engineered for critical Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
Its specifications, including the ability to carry a payload of up to 2,300 kg and operate in all weather conditions, make it highly suitable for India’s demanding strategic requirements.
These include persistent high-altitude surveillance along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and extensive maritime reconnaissance across the vast Indo-Pacific region.
The prospect of co-developing a drone variant allows India to leverage a proven European platform while simultaneously advancing its domestic defence manufacturing capabilities under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
By combining the Eurodrone's advanced airframe and systems with DRDO’s specialized payloads and software, India could field a world-class MALE UAV that is perfectly aligned with the operational doctrines of its armed forces.
