India’s Drone Plan RFQ stage: India is working on a very big drone project worth ₹25,000 crore. The Ministry of Defence will move it to the next step called the RFQ stage by mid 2026. This step will decide which company gets closer to building these drones. The main aim of this project is to want a stronger eyes in the sky. These drones will help the Army, Navy, and Air Force watch borders, track enemies, and support missions when needed.
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What are these MALE Drones?
The project is about MALE UAVs. This means Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones. These drones can fly high in the sky and stay there for many hours without stopping. India is planning to buy around 87 of these drones in total.
They are not just for watching. They can do many jobs like checking borders, gathering information, and even helping in attacks if needed. Since they can fly for a long time and at high height, they are very useful for places like mountains and sea areas where constant watch is needed.
The plan started in late 2025 under Make in India. Companies already gave their early proposals in the first stage. Now the next step is coming. The deadline for submissions has been pushed to May 2026 because the whole process is not simple and takes time.
Indian Companies and Foreign Help
Indian companies are leading the project but they are not working alone. Big names like Adani Defence, Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are part of this race. They are teaming up with foreign companies like Israeli Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, and General Atomics from the USA.
This teamwork is needed because the technology is advanced. India wants to learn and build these systems inside the country, not just buy them ready-made.
The project did not move fast at first. There were some real problems behind it. Tensions in West Asia affected supply chains. Agreements between companies from different countries also took time. Sharing of important technology is not easy and needs careful talks. Because of all this, the timeline was extended. But this also helped companies prepare better and come up with stronger plans.
What these Drones must be Able to do?
The military has kept very strict rules for these drones. They must fly for more than 30 hours without landing. They should go above 35,000 feet in the sky. They also need strong communication systems so they do not lose contact.
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These drones should carry different types of equipment. They must be able to handle long range missions and may also be used for combat roles in the future. The Air Force is likely to handle most of the operations when they are ready.
Focus on Made in India
One big rule in this project is local production. At least 60% of the drone must be made in India. This includes important parts like the body, engine, and sensors.
The government also wants full support systems inside the country. Maintenance and repairs should not depend on foreign countries. Also, foreign partners must share real technology, not just help in assembly work.
Once the RFQ stage starts by mid 2026, things will become more serious. Companies will be judged on price, performance and how much they follow the Make in India rules. The drones will go through proper testing.
