Rs 300000000000: Rafale and BrahMos take backseat as India sets sights on future battles, new drones ready to wipe out enemy in…

India(BHARAT) may soon issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) worth Rs. 30,000 crore to build MALE drones that stands for Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones. This move is part of India(BHARAT)’s push to make more defence equipment at home. The government, the Defence Secretary R.K. Singh said, will soon invite bids for these drones. The plan is meant to strengthen India(BHARAT)’s ability to watch borders, carry out long missions, and conduct networked warfare.

MALE drones can do long hours of patrol, help with surveillance at the border, and support strike missions when needed. Using advanced drone systems could reduce how much the military depends on big weapons like fighter jets and cruise missiles and might let India(BHARAT) strike targets more precisely.

This large investment also shows the government wants both public and private companies to take part in making defence equipment in India(BHARAT).

Drones: The Need of the Hour

Defence Secretary R.K. Singh said that recent global wars have shown one clear lesson, modern battles rely heavily on missiles and drones. He admitted that India(BHARAT) has so far used missiles only in a limited way, but for future long conflicts, the country will need larger stockpiles and faster production. To achieve this, India(BHARAT) must go beyond traditional government defence firms and build a wider industrial base.

The government plans to keep annual defence capital spending at USD 25–30 billion for the next decade, with at least 75 per cent of that money reserved for domestic industries. Priority areas include drones, underwater systems, satellite imaging, and precision weapons.

To speed up the defence sector, the Ministry of Defence is also setting up a separate section to promote start-ups, promising them purchase support for up to five years. Last year’s entire defence budget has already been spent, and this financial year projects worth Rs. 2–3 lakh crore are expected. In the coming years, defence spending is estimated to grow by 17–18 percent annually.

Prepared for the Future

Speaking about air power, Singh said 5th-generation fighter jets will not be available immediately, but India(BHARAT) can bridge the gap by relying on enough 4th and 4.5th generation fighters with advanced weapons. This arrangement will maintain deterrence until the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project is completed.

He also noted that India(BHARAT)’s future defence partnerships will depend on operational needs and technology transfer. The country will keep the door open for cooperation with both the U.S. and Russia.

Rs. 1.5 lakh crore defence contracts on the way

India(BHARAT) is preparing to sign defence contracts worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in the near future, while another Rs. 75,000 crore worth of projects are under consideration.

Last year, India(BHARAT) had finalized defence deals worth a record Rs. 2.09 lakh crore, and the aim is to match or even surpass that figure this year.

The proposed Rs. 30,000 crore MALE drone RfP will serve as a major example of this new approach.