India's Plan for Homegrown Military Drones Stumbles as Companies Look Abroad

India's ambitious plan to develop its own advanced military drones is facing unexpected hurdles. The Ministry of Defence's (MoD) efforts to boost domestic production through a private-sector partnership model appear to be stalling as some Indian companies show a preference for collaborating with foreign manufacturers.

The MoD's drive to involve the private sector follows setbacks in the state-run Tapas drone program, which suffered from delays and technical limitations. Seeking fresh solutions, the MoD proposed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model to tap into private sector expertise and speed up the development of High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

However, initial enthusiasm for the program seems to be waning. Industry sources suggest the MoD's proposal hasn't sparked significant interest among Indian private companies. Instead, some companies seem focused on partnerships with international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

Possible reasons for this preference remain unclear. The complexity of HALE UAV development may make Indian firms hesitant without established partnerships, seeking the expertise and resources of experienced foreign companies. Tata, for example, seeks to convert a German business jet into a drone platform, while Adani Defence reportedly eyes an Israeli drone design as a base.

This reliance on foreign collaboration casts doubt on the MoD's vision of a truly indigenous HALE UAV program. While partnerships can offer benefits, they raise concerns about long-term dependency on foreign technology and potential limitations on knowledge transfer.

India's efforts to create a robust domestic drone industry hit a snag, highlighting the challenges in fostering self-reliance in advanced military technologies. To make the SPV model a success, the MoD may need to find further incentives for Indian companies to invest in homegrown research and development, even while carefully considering the benefits of select foreign partnerships.

 

[Mithu Roy]

Put conditions for 100 percent indigenous manufacturing in steps will solve the issue of knowledge

 

[Anant]

Put conditions for 100 percent indigenous manufacturing in steps will solve the issue of knowledge

You simply will have companies either manufacturing the whole thing here or simply won't apply to the tender.

 

[Pramkumar]

Better to produce the tapas in block with improved versions instead of inviting the job workers of private companies

 

[Instant Karma]

Adani is behind this.

 

[Itachi]

Hale drone project soon will be called screwdriver 🪛 project because look like it will be screwdriver project..🤣🤣

 

[INDIAN]

Indian private players want easy way out , they will buy from outside and they just manufacturing here. As outside systems are all working systems across many countries, their will no chance of failure . But its one type of import only where you re just assembly here.
Private industries are fearful about HAL ability , they know if this indigenous drone don't live up to the expectation of Indian forces, then they will not give orders and their investments will become zero.
HAL will survive with failures as its a government backed entity but what about private players.
Problem here is that If government gives some incentive to private players like TATA, ADANI , then some people will say government is giving money to Ambani Adani...all these sorts of thing...
Government players like HAL are not ablet to deliver and private players are not getting empowerment due to fear of politics.
Its messy situation here for India.

 

[nakul1307]

These companies did the same thing with AMCA. Instead of taking risks and investing in RnD for the country, they want to print money on screwdriving.

 

[Kiran Kumar]

It is a matter of shame for DRDO to unable to finish HALE UAV.

 

[Akshat]

Better to produce the tapas in block with improved versions instead of inviting the job workers of private companies

You mean the failed drone that can’t meet even the most basic requirements and doesn’t even qualify as a LE drone as it can’t meet the 24 hour criteria?

 

[Akshat]

These companies did the same thing with AMCA. Instead of taking risks and investing in RnD for the country, they want to print money on screwdriving.

At least they can do that efficiently. DPSUs won’t do anything at all.

 

[Anant]

These companies did the same thing with AMCA. Instead of taking risks and investing in RnD for the country, they want to print money on screwdriving.

Private players will not unnecessarily take on risk. Give them committed orders and the like, and they will go ahead with R&D. Private players cannot operate like DPSUs do.

 

[Akshat]

Another hit job by DRDO and DPSUs and their leftist friends in media.

 

[Sandeep]

Currently the government are working on the Archer NG which will be able to meet the technology and capability requirements. This will also be a armed drone which is best as it can be used for surveillance and to hit targets so its best if they focus on this drone project in a partnership with the government and private sector using both talent, technology and collaboration. After that then they should allow the private sector to manufacture the drone as they can achieve it in a much better, economical and quicker way.

The TAPAS drone project failed in one area only which was meeting its high altitude target of a minimum of 30000ft. Other than that the rest of the technology and capabilities like SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, EW, ESM, surveillance, tracking, thermal and night vision, laser designator, landing gear, engine, operating station etc was working perfectly. A lot of that technology will be used on the upcoming Archer NG which will cut down on technology and development time and capability.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Indian private players want easy way out , they will buy from outside and they just manufacturing here. As outside systems are all working systems across many countries, their will no chance of failure . But its one type of import only where you re just assembly here.
Private industries are fearful about HAL ability , they know if this indigenous drone don't live up to the expectation of Indian forces, then they will not give orders and their investments will become zero.
HAL will survive with failures as its a government backed entity but what about private players.
Problem here is that If government gives some incentive to private players like TATA, ADANI , then some people will say government is giving money to Ambani Adani...all these sorts of thing...
Government players like HAL are not ablet to deliver and private players are not getting empowerment due to fear of politics.
Its messy situation here for India.

Like US, govt need to provide funding to pvt players for R&D with specific product in mind. Govt shouldn't worry about what the people say. Public opinion will change when they'll see some products.

 

[War is good for business]

You mean the failed drone that can’t meet even the most basic requirements and doesn’t even qualify as a LE drone as it can’t meet the 24 hour criteria?

Have you looked at the other drones that have been tested in India and performed far below their advertised performance in Indian conditions?

 

[War is good for business]

Private players will not unnecessarily take on risk. Give them committed orders and the like, and they will go ahead with R&D. Private players cannot operate like DPSUs do.

These projects like AMCA, IMRH and HALE drone are committed. After investing so much in R&D there is no way the armed forces would not acquire them.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

It is a matter of shame for DRDO to unable to finish HALE UAV.

DRDO couldn't make MALE UAV also. It's pretty obvious they can't make HALE.

 

[Akshat]

Private players will not unnecessarily take on risk. Give them committed orders and the like, and they will go ahead with R&D. Private players cannot operate like DPSUs do.

That’s not a necessity either. In Zorawar project, L&T is just the development partner. So the GoI can fund the project, subject to meeting milestones.

 

[Akshat]

Currently the government are working on the Archer NG which will be able to meet the technology and capability requirements. This will also be a armed drone which is best as it can be used for surveillance and to hit targets so its best if they focus on this drone project in a partnership with the government and private sector using both talent, technology and collaboration. After that then they should allow the private sector to manufacture the drone as they can achieve it in a much better, economical and quicker way.

The TAPAS drone project failed in one area only which was meeting its high altitude target of a minimum of 30000ft. Other than that the rest of the technology and capabilities like SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, EW, ESM, surveillance, tracking, thermal and night vision, laser designator, landing gear, engine, operating station etc was working perfectly. A lot of that technology will be used on the upcoming Archer NG which will cut down on technology and development time and capability.

Who, other than DRFO ever said that anything at all worked on Tapas? And what about the duration? Did it meet that requirement? Did anyone test it at all (other than DRDO)? So no one knows what worked and what didn’t. DRDO lies about everything. Till the time it is inducted, assume every single nut and bolt failed.

 

[Akshat]

Have you looked at the other drones that have been tested in India and performed far below their advertised performance in Indian conditions?

Then imagine where will DRDO’s drone’s actual performance lie when army tests them. DRDO is anyways known to inflate and lie about the performance.

 

[beencensured]

It is a matter of shame for DRDO to unable to finish HALE UAV.

I wonder if it even started the Hale project.

 

[beencensured]

Currently the government are working on the Archer NG which will be able to meet the technology and capability requirements. This will also be a armed drone which is best as it can be used for surveillance and to hit targets so its best if they focus on this drone project in a partnership with the government and private sector using both talent, technology and collaboration. After that then they should allow the private sector to manufacture the drone as they can achieve it in a much better, economical and quicker way.

The TAPAS drone project failed in one area only which was meeting its high altitude target of a minimum of 30000ft. Other than that the rest of the technology and capabilities like SIGINT, COMINT, SATCOM, EW, ESM, surveillance, tracking, thermal and night vision, laser designator, landing gear, engine, operating station etc was working perfectly. A lot of that technology will be used on the upcoming Archer NG which will cut down on technology and development time and capability.

There are companies like new space who is developing haps and etc., but you will never get cronies to take risk or invest. So, government should help these risk taking companies who are willing to develop and make them competitive, then cronies whom just want to buy technology and get commission.

 

[Akshat]

These projects like AMCA, IMRH and HALE drone are committed. After investing so much in R&D there is no way the armed forces would not acquire them.

Remember Kaveri? Remember Arjun? Remember Tapas? Remember ATAGS (where army has reduced orders to 300 and is looking for alternatives)? Armed forces won't induct something in big numbers if the quality is bad. So the only way out is to throw DRDO out and give full funding and control to the private company.

 

[Sridhar]

You simply will have companies either manufacturing the whole thing here or simply won't apply to the tender.

That will be the reality.