The Ministry of Defence has launched a ₹2,000 crore tender to procure 10 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones for the Indian Coast Guard, marking the force's first induction of large unmanned aerial vehicles for maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations. Major Indian defence firms, including Adani Defence, Solar Industries, and TATA Advanced Systems, are expected to compete for the contract.
The drones will significantly enhance the Coast Guard's surveillance capabilities across India's Exclusive Economic Zone and Search and Rescue Region, providing persistent beyond-line-of-sight monitoring of shipping lanes, maritime borders, and island territories such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Equipped with SATCOM connectivity, advanced sensors, radar, and electro-optical payloads, the UAVs will improve maritime domain awareness, emergency response, and detection of illegal activities.
The procurement will follow the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 through a two-stage evaluation process, including technical trials before final contract negotiations. The selected vendor will also provide long-term maintenance and product support.
Capable of operating for up to 48 hours at altitudes of 10,000–30,000 feet, the MALE drones will complement the Coast Guard's existing Dornier aircraft and helicopter fleet. The acquisition represents a major step in modernising India's maritime surveillance architecture and strengthening the Coast Guard's ability to safeguard national waters and strategic maritime interests.On Date: