TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Adani Defence, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Ashok Leyland have emerged as leading contenders for the Indian Coast Guard's requirement for 10 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft.

All interested vendors, including Solar Industries, participated in the pre-bid meeting held as part of the procurement process, indicating broad industry interest in the programme.

The Indian Coast Guard is seeking to acquire 10 MALE systems to significantly strengthen its long-range maritime surveillance, reconnaissance and search-and-rescue capabilities across India's vast maritime domain.

The proposed platforms are expected to provide persistent beyond-line-of-sight monitoring, support maritime security operations, and enhance situational awareness across the Exclusive Economic Zone as well as distant search-and-rescue areas.

The acquisition is part of the Coast Guard's wider effort to expand the use of unmanned systems alongside its existing fleet of maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters.

Several established Indian defence manufacturers and aerospace firms are positioning themselves for the competition, underscoring the growing maturity of the country's indigenous unmanned aviation sector.

The program is expected to be closely watched by industry observers, as it could become one of the Indian Coast Guard's most significant unmanned aviation procurements and further support the government's emphasis on domestic defence manufacturing.

Agencies