Economy

The Visakhapatnam-based Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) has signed agreements covering a Submarine Fired Decoy (SFD) with defence public sector company Bharat Dynamics Limited and technology linked to the fabrication, installation and commissioning of LM2500 gas-turbine systems with Hyderabad-based Vertex Engineering Systems Pvt. Ltd. DRDO confirmed the agreements through an official announcement.

According to the ARDE trial-support specification, activities associated with the PGB-500 campaign are expected to involve Air Force Station Jodhpur and 3 AFRU at Chandan near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

The RFI seeks six aircraft, according to the document details reported from the requirement. More importantly, the specifications call for a mission suite capable of maintaining full 360-degree surveillance, giving India another layer of airborne radar coverage beyond its existing fleet.

FPV drones allow an operator to fly towards a target using a live video feed from the aircraft. When fitted with an explosive warhead, a relatively inexpensive drone can become a precision attack system capable of engaging vehicles, fortified positions and other battlefield targets.

The Ministry of Defence’s Annual Report 2024-25 officially documented that the IAF had already manufactured 233 items through 3D printing, including brackets, valve casings, manifolds and panels.

Recent public reporting, citing former DRDO Chairman and Netra programme architect Dr S. Christopher, indicates that one of the Indian Air Force’s three existing Netra Mk1 aircraft has flown with a newer Gallium Nitride, or GaN, based AESA radar configuration, with similar modernisation envisaged for the remaining aircraft.