The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a major project to jointly develop long-range kamikaze drones with domestic partners, aimed at strengthening preparedness for drone-centric warfare in the future. The initiative is focused on building a fully indigenous ecosystem for the design, development, manufacturing and sustainment of one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (OWA-UAS), according to Chaitanya Marpakwar's Times of India report.
Under the programme, the IAF has issued a limited tender inviting Indian companies to participate in the development of these self-sacrificing unmanned aerial vehicles, which are designed to fly to target areas, identify enemy positions and detonate on impact. The tender calls for “invitation of bids for indigenous design, development, setting up of manufacturing facilities and training for unmanned aerial systems”.
