Tata wins bulk of Rs 1,577 crore Army drone deal

The Indian Army has signed contracts worth Rs 1,577 crore to acquire 840 domestically produced one-way attack drones within 12 months, marking the first major order under fast-track procedures. Tata Advanced Systems will supply 64% of the order, while Nibe Defence will provide the remainder. The drones can strike targets over 100 km away and are designed to resist jamming and spoofing, incorporating lessons from recent conflicts.

Separately, the Defence Ministry has approved a broader modernisation programme worth over Rs 20,000 crore for loitering munitions, surveillance systems and high-altitude unmanned platforms, India Today reports. Defence sources said the drive marks a shift to network-centric, drone-led warfare, focusing on borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Most equipment will be procured under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Systems will be inducted over 24 to 36 months.