New Delhi, April 8 The government has envisioned the design and development of an unmanned combat search and rescue aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) that can be used in missions to rescue aircrew without risking piloted aircraft, according to officials.
The project, envisioned under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, has been "provisionally approved," a senior official said.
The indigenous autonomous system, as planned, should also be a platform that can be deployed to transport logistical material and other supplies in forward areas and challenging terrains, including snow-bound areas, where conventional helicopters struggle, officials said.
The runway-independent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) should have the ability to "automatically take off, navigate, and land, with the capability to search, locate, and land using an integrated Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)," they said.
According to the specifications for the planned platform, it should be able to operate from sea level up to 16,000 ft (with 20,000 ft if desired), and have a range of at least 200 km with a loiter time of 45 minutes, according to officials.
It should also be able to carry at least 400 kg, including four passengers and stretchers.
The move also aims to boost the country's 'self-reliance' in the defence sector and strengthen the combat readiness of the Indian Air Force (IAF), another official, familiar with the project, said.
Under the proposed project, a "runway-independent UAV" – a combat search and rescue (CSAR) drone – is to be designed and developed that "can be deployed for operations and rescue aircrew without risking manned aircraft," the official added.
The project is structured under the 'Make-I' category, wherein the government supports 70 per cent of the development costs, while Indian vendors cover the remaining 30 per cent, they said.
After successful development, procurement will follow the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' route, ensuring at least 50 per cent indigenous content in materials, components, and software, officials said.
IDDM stands for Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured.
The platform should be able to launch from unprepared surfaces and fly in conditions where the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is unavailable, they said.
These specifications project the "CSAR drone" as one of the most advanced indigenous UAVs in India's defence ecosystem, "combining AI-driven autonomy, all-weather resilience, and combat-oriented utility," the senior official said.
Indian vendors with experience in aviation-related MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), UAV manufacturing, and defence quality assurance stand to gain, they said. The CSAR drone will need "rigorous military airworthiness validation," the senior official said.
The 'Make-I' mechanism is for Indian defence start-ups and MSMEs.
It allows private firms to lead the design, development, and manufacture of a system, while the IAF acts as a strategic partner through funding, feedback, and eventual procurement, officials said.
The CSAR drone project will add to India's growing fleet of indigenous defence drones, reduce foreign dependence, and create high-tech jobs in design, testing, and UAV manufacturing, they said.