Why Indian Army wants 2,715 drones to supply troops at remote border posts
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure 2,715 logistic drones for the Indian Army. If the proposal moves forward, it will be the Army’s largest-ever procurement of logistics drones and a major step towards using unmanned systems for military supply operations.
What are logistic drones?
Unlike armed drones that carry weapons or surveillance drones that gather intelligence, logistic drones are designed to transport supplies. Instead of carrying missiles or cameras for combat missions, they carry food, drinking water, ammunition, medicines, spare parts and other essential equipment to soldiers stationed at remote border posts.
Why does the Army need them?
Many Indian Army posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan are located in mountainous and high-altitude regions. For example oxygen starved high altitude army posts in Ladakh or Siachin.
Supplying these posts is often difficult because of snow, steep terrain and harsh weather. Soldiers and mule columns are frequently used to carry supplies over long distances.
The Army wants logistic drones to take over much of this last-mile delivery. This will reduce the burden on troops, speed up supply operations and improve logistics during both peace and conflict.
What kind of drones is the Army looking for?
The Army wants three categories of drones capable of operating at different altitudes:
- Up to 6,000 feet
- Between 6,000 and 12,000 feet
- Between 12,000 and 20,000 feet
This is because India’s border regions have very different terrains — from plains and foothills to some of the world’s highest mountain posts. Looking in to the categories, the drones that will operate at up to 6,000 feet are expected to be deployed in lower-altitude areas, including plains, foothills and relatively accessible border regions. They can support supply operations where terrain is difficult but extreme high-altitude conditions are not a major challenge. Drones operating between 6,000 and 12,000 feet should be useful in mountainous regions and high-altitude areas such as parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where many military posts are located in hilly terrain. And drones operating between 12,000 and 20,000 feet are designed for India’s most challenging high-altitude sectors, including areas such as Ladakh and parts of the eastern Himalayas. At these heights, thin air, freezing temperatures and snow-covered terrain make traditional transportation extremely difficult.
The altitude-based classification allows the Army to use the right type of drone for different environments — from lower Himalayan foothills to remote posts located at extreme elevations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Each system should include a ground control station, cameras, thermal sensors, GPS, onboard navigation and obstacle-avoidance technology such as LIDAR. The drones should also be able to fly autonomously, be manually controlled and return to base automatically after completing a mission.
What are the key requirements?
The Army has set tough requirements to ensure that these drones can operate reliably in challenging conditions. They must be able to fly 10 to 20 kilometres in a single mission, depending on the altitude, and work in extreme temperatures ranging from minus 30°C to 50°C. Each drone should have a service life of around seven years and be capable of completing at least 1,000 landings. Since many Army posts are located in remote and rugged areas, the drones must also be able to take off and land on rough, unprepared surfaces near forward locations.
Why are anti-jamming features important?
Modern battlefields rely heavily on electronic warfare. Enemy forces can try to disrupt drone communications or send false navigation signals to mislead them.
To prevent this, the Army wants the drones to have anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems. They should also carry identification systems so that India’s own air defence network can recognise them as friendly aircraft.
Has the government placed the order?
Not yet.
The Ministry has only issued a Request for Information (RFI). This is the first stage of the procurement process, where the government seeks information from manufacturers about available technology and capabilities. The new proposal for 2,715 drones is the biggest requirement issued so far.
Why does it matter?
The Army’s latest proposal reflects the increasing importance of autonomous logistics in modern warfare. As India continues to maintain large numbers of troops along its northern and western borders, ensuring quick and reliable delivery of supplies has become a strategic priority.
If the procurement goes ahead, logistic drones could significantly improve the Army’s ability to support soldiers deployed in remote and high-altitude areas while reducing the risks and challenges associated with traditional methods of transportation.