Anti-drone patrol vehicle bags Rs 155 crore MHA order

Hyderabad-based Indrajaal Autonomous Defense Systems has won orders worth Rs 155 crore from the Union ministry of home affairs for its Indrajaal Ranger, described as India's first purpose-built anti-drone patrol vehicle. The Times of India reports that Rs 145 crore of this comes through the Indrajaal-Sigma Advanced Systems consortium for border-security deployments, while a separate Rs 10 crore order covers urban policing and VVIP protection.

The new Indian Express says the vehicle can detect, track, identify and counter rogue drones at high speeds, integrating sensors and AI through the SkyOS platform. The MHA's Anti-Rogue Drone Technology Committee has approved the Ranger, which offers three protection layers: Retractor, Lakshman Rekha and Net Interceptor. Indrajaal CEO Kiran Raju Penumacha said drone threats now extend beyond battlefields to cities and public events.

Built on a Toyota Hilux platform, the Ranger will be manufactured at Indrajaal's facilities in Hyderabad. Sigma CEO Sunil Kalidindi said the programme demonstrates India's defence manufacturing capability under Atmanirbhar Bharat.