India's civil aviation research and development laboratory, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), has issued a call for proposals for joint collaboration in the development, production and commercialisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying munitions.

According to the request, NAL plans to jointly develop UAVs capable of carrying a 15 kg warhead, along with 10-15 kg suitable sensing payloads. The goal is for these UAVs to have modern performance characteristics, including a loitering endurance of 6 to 9 hours and a maximum range of 900 km, with a total weight limited to less than 150 kg.

The proposed UAVs will feature a maximum flight altitude of 5 km, proprietary hardware and software, the ability to operate without Global Positioning System (GPS) support, and stealth capabilities to minimize radar visibility.

The document specified that the bidder is expected to be actively involved in the joint design, analysis, development and testing of the various subsystems of the loitering munition UAV. After successful completion of the flight test, certification and user acceptance, the bidder will be given the first right to produce, market, commercialize and provide after-sales support for the UAV.

NAL's call for proposals comes at a time when drones are increasingly being used by both state and non-state actors in conflicts around the world, including the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the use of armed drones in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the conflict between Israel and Iran.

The document further noted that roaming ordnance UAVs have become more popular in recent conflicts due to their distinct advantages over missiles and other aircraft. These UAVs combine features of both UAVs and missiles, allowing them to roam over a specific area in enemy territory for an extended period of time until they detect targets. The role of roaming ordnance UAVs in suppressing enemy defenses has been demonstrated in recent conflicts, it added.