India is preparing to significantly bolster its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities with the planned issuance of a ₹30,000 crore Request for Proposal (RfP) for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced at the Network18 Reforms Reloaded 2025 summit in Delhi. The move marks a major milestone in the government’s ongoing drive to enhance self-reliance in strategic defence technologies.
The MALE-class drones are expected to strengthen India’s surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities, enabling long-endurance missions along borders and in operational theatres. Officials said the scale of the RfP demonstrates the government’s intent to promote large-scale domestic production and encourage participation from both public and private sector firms.
Singh highlighted lessons from recent global conflicts, noting that modern warfare increasingly relies on extensive drone and missile deployment. While India has traditionally followed a calibrated approach to missile use, future conflicts will demand higher stockpiles and rapid production, necessitating a diversified industrial base beyond traditional state-owned defence manufacturers.
Under the new framework, the Ministry of Defence plans to sustain annual capital expenditure of $25–30 billion over the next decade, with at least 75% earmarked for domestic industry. Singh emphasised that where technology maturity allows, procurement will aim to be fully indigenous. Key focus areas include drones, UAVs, underwater drones, satellite imagery systems, and precision munitions.
Acknowledging capacity constraints at state-run firms like BDL and MIL, Singh announced a shift away from reserved orders to open competitive bidding. The reforms will also include dedicated support for start-ups, with procurement assurances for five years and simplified capital expenditure documentation expected by December 2025.
India’s defence budget execution has remained strong, with last year’s allocation fully utilised and expectations for full absorption this fiscal year. Singh projected ₹2–3 lakh crore worth of projects for execution this year, with a sustainable annual budget growth of 17–18% over the next five years.
On air combat capabilities, Singh noted that while fifth-generation fighter jets may not be immediately available, the capability gap could be addressed by acquiring sufficient numbers of 4th and 4.5 generation aircraft equipped with advanced weapons, maintaining deterrence until indigenous platforms like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) become operational.
Singh also highlighted India’s pragmatic approach to defence partnerships, prioritising operational requirements and technology access over political alignment. The government is open to collaborating with both the United States and Russia for critical technologies, with upcoming contracts worth ₹1.5 lakh crore and a further ₹75,000 crore under consideration.
The upcoming MALE drone RfP is expected to become a flagship example of India’s evolving defence procurement strategy, combining scale, competition, and indigenous industrial development, and reinforcing the nation’s trajectory toward self-reliant and technology-driven defence capabilities.
