Indian Navy to go ahead for the procurement of indigenous TAPAS UAV for Maritime Surveillance, despite the acquisition of Adani made Israeli Drishti-10 UAVs
Source : IgMp Bureau
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| TAPAS MALE UAV |
In a notable step towards strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Indian Navy has officially decided to procure the domestically developed TAPAS Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. This decision was confirmed by a senior Navy official, speaking anonymously, and highlights the Navy's commitment to fostering homegrown defence technology despite the recent induction of the Adani Defence and Aerospace-manufactured Drishti-10 UAVs.
Under the initial phase of procurement, the Indian Navy plans to acquire 10 TAPAS UAVs. These units will be strategically deployed at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands naval base, which serves as a vital hub for maritime surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean. This deployment is expected to enhance India’s ability to monitor and secure critical maritime routes in the region, which hold immense strategic and economic importance.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the TAPAS UAV has undergone extensive testing to meet the Navy’s stringent operational requirements. Particular focus has been placed on achieving a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, coupled with efforts to minimize drag and reduce overall weight, both of which are essential for improving endurance and operational efficiency.
While the TAPAS UAV continues its refinement process, the Navy has opted for a pragmatic approach by incorporating two Drishti-10 UAVs into its fleet as an interim solution. These UAVs, created through a partnership between Adani Defence and Israel’s Elbit Systems and based on the Hermes 900 Starliner, provide immediate surveillance capabilities. They complement the Navy’s broader unmanned fleet, which includes the 15 MQ-9 Sea Guardian UAVs procured from the United States. The Drishti-10’s induction serves to bridge the capability gap until the indigenous TAPAS UAV is fully production-ready.
The TAPAS UAV program, however, has not been without challenges. Meeting the performance benchmarks, including operational altitude and endurance metrics required by both the Navy and Army, has proven to be a significant hurdle. To address these issues, DRDO is making critical design modifications aimed at reducing drag and overall weight. These enhancements are key to ensuring the UAV’s readiness for diverse operational environments, ranging from high-altitude mountainous regions in the north to expansive maritime zones in the south.
Despite these challenges, the Indian Navy’s decision to proceed with the TAPAS UAV underscores its commitment to bolstering domestic defence manufacturing while maintaining operational readiness. This balanced approach reflects India’s broader vision of achieving self-reliance in defence technology while strategically augmenting its existing capabilities with interim solutions like the Drishti-10 UAV.
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