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The procurement has been placed under the Buy (Indian – Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category, making the programme another significant transition of a DRDO-developed weapon from development into series acquisition for the armed forces.
BITS Pilani and DIAT jointly presented 48 indigenous technology capabilities to participating companies and strategic-sector organisations.
The latest programme update indicates that the aircraft has accumulated its 100 flight hours across different operating conditions while validating take-off, climb, cruise, autonomous flight and landing performance. The company has placed the indigenous content of the platform at approximately 85%.
Tarang Shakti is designed around considerably more than fighter-versus-fighter engagements. Participating forces are expected to undertake missions involving counter-air operations, air defence, reconnaissance, airlift and air-to-air refuelling, together with other complex operational scenarios.
The contract covers 155mm Extended Range Full Bore-Base Bleed artillery ammunition, commonly designated ERFB-BB. This class of projectile combines an extended-range aerodynamic design with a base-bleed unit at the rear of the shell.
The RFLY-PRO family consists of multirotor UAVs developed for surveillance, reconnaissance and sensor-carrying missions. The platforms use a carbon-fibre structure and foldable configuration intended to simplify transportation and deployment in field conditions.
The UH-M programme is being pursued by HAL’s Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre in Bengaluru. It builds on technologies developed through HAL’s indigenous helicopter programmes while incorporating structural, avionics and shipborne features specifically required for maritime operations.
Robert Toth, Vice President for Strategy and Business Development for Air Mobility and Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin, said in September 2026 that the company was prepared for the complete transfer of technologies associated with certain parts of the Super Hercules if the C-130J succeeds in the Indian competition.
The Heavy Drop System–20T Type V is designed for the aerial delivery of military equipment and armoured platforms weighing up to 20 tonnes from transport aircraft including the C-130J and C-17.
The announcement marks an important change in the programme’s status. DRDO has already completed the core technology-demonstration phase for the 30 kW system, and the focus is now shifting towards converting the prototype into a production-standard weapon that can be manufactured by Indian industry.
