Why in news?
The Indian government fast‑tracked the procurement of 87 domestically produced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones in July 2025. Valued at around ₹20,000 crore, the deal aims to bolster surveillance along India’s borders.
What are MALE drones?
- MALE drones are unmanned aerial vehicles capable of flying at altitudes of up to 35,000 feet for more than 30 hours.
- They are used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and can carry weapons for limited strike missions.
- India’s new fleet is being developed under the Make in India programme, replacing earlier imports from Israel.
Key features
- Endurance: Long flight times enable persistent monitoring of remote areas.
- Payloads: Equipped with electro‑optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, synthetic aperture radar and potential armed modules.
- Indigenous content: Over 60 % of components are sourced domestically, reducing import dependence and fostering a local drone ecosystem.
- Secure communications: Ground stations control the drones via encrypted links, ensuring real‑time data relay.
Strategic applications
- Border surveillance: Continuous monitoring along the Line of Control with Pakistan, the Line of Actual Control with China and coastal areas.
- Tri‑services integration: Sharing feeds among the Army, Navy and Air Force enhances situational awareness.
- Counter‑insurgency: Useful in tackling militancy and Naxalism by tracking movements in dense terrain.
- Disaster response: Mapping flood‑affected regions and guiding relief operations.
- Industrial benefits: Encourages a domestic drone industry and provides employment in advanced manufacturing.
