Indian Army Issues RFI to Purchase 60 Short Range Surveillance Drones

The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase 60 specialized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that can stay in air for 10 hours continuously.

The RFI states that the Indian Ministry of Defence intends to procure Short Range Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) for the Indian Defence Forces.

“The RPAS are proposed to be developed and manufactured by the Indian industry under an appropriate category of the DPP. The project would be based on proven or matured technologies where fundamental research is not required. The development and manufacture of the equipment could also be undertaken by Indian Industry / Consortia,” according to the RFI document published on Thursday.

The tentative date of issue of RFP is January 2018. Total quantities required are approximately sixty. Short Range RPAS along with associated payloads and Ground Support Equipment (GSE). The equipment is planned to be procured in a phased manner, the desired quantity should be delivered within twenty four months from the day of signing of the contract.

The intended use is for day and night aerial surveillance of a large area over a sustained period. The UAV should be able to fly up to 20,000 feet, broadly covering all areas along the Himalayas, within a radius of 200 km from the ground station for minimum 10 hours.

The UAV must have electro-optical and infrared (IR) capacities with the ability to listen in to communications. It must also have synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for imagery during adverse weather conditions and maritime patrol radar (MPR). During flight, it should be able to identify a “friend or foe”, the requirement says.