IN recent years, India has bolstered its indigenous defence capabilities. The fully Indian-designed drones stand as a testament to this progress as well as to the nation’s growing technological prowess. These indigenous innovations reflect India’s commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector.
Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, organisations such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), public sector undertakings, and private firms have developed a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) tailored for various applications, particularly in military and surveillance operations. Some of these drones were deployed during India’s recent Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory action by the Indian Armed Forces in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
Below is a list of the prominent 100 per cent Indian-designed drones that were either deployed to fly into Pakistani airbases, strike targets, conduct surveillance, or held in reserve during Op Sindoor.
Netra
- Lightweight, quadcopter-style UAV.
- Developed by DRDO’s Research and Development Establishment (R&DE) and IdeaForge Technology Ltd.
- Used for urban surveillance, disaster management, and tactical reconnaissance.
- It is used by the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and for disaster management.
JM-1 Loitering Munition (LM)
- Loitering munition (suicide/kamikaze drone).
- It is used for precision strikes.
- As per the reports, it was used in Operation Sindoor.
ALS-250
- It is a Tactical UAV, primarily used for surveillance and reconnaissance.
- ALS-250 is also used for monitoring and standby operations in conflict zones.
Switch
- Switch is also a Tactical UAV.
- Being used for surveillance and reconnaissance.
- It has been deployed for surveillance missions.
IG VTOL
- Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAV.
- It is used by the Indian Armed Forces for surveillance in high-altitude and tough terrains.
Ajeet Eagle
- It is a Tactical UAV, primarily used for surveillance and reconnaissance.
- Ajeet Eagle has played a role in both monitoring and standby operations.
IG FPV
- It is a First-Person View (FPV) kamikaze drone, developed by DRDO.
- It is primarily used for Anti-tank precision strikes.
- It has been successfully tested by the Indian Army’s Fleur-De-Lis Brigade with impact-based anti-tank munitions.
