Tech Desk: In a significant strategic shift, the Indian Army is gearing up for its largest-ever procurement of 2,715 Indian Army logistic drones. This massive acquisition aims to revolutionize border supply operations, ensuring swift and efficient delivery of vital rations, ammunition, and other essentials to troops stationed along the challenging borders with China and Pakistan.

The Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for these unmanned systems, which will operate across three altitude categories: up to 6,000 feet, between 6,000 and 12,000 feet, and from 12,000 to 20,000 feet. These drones are designed for crucial last-mile delivery to forward posts, traversing diverse terrains from plains to snow-bound mountains, both in peace and wartime scenarios.

Each system will feature an aerial vehicle, ground control station, remote video terminal, and advanced sensors like colour day cameras and night thermal imagers. Critical requirements include GPS, self-tracking, LIDAR for obstacle detection, robust resilience against jamming and spoofing, and identification technology to prevent friendly fire. With a mission range of 10-20 kilometers one-way, and an endurance to withstand extreme temperatures from -30°C to 50°C for at least 1,000 landings over seven years, these drones represent a cornerstone of modern military logistics.