This combat drone can be used even without GPS.
New Delhi: After Operation Sindoor, India is preparing to buy state-of-the-art combat drones. For this, the combat drone that India is considering purchasing and incorporating technology from is the V-Bat combat drone, which is manufactured by the American defence company Shield AI. This deal is being done under an emergency purchase of $ 4.5 billion, which has been launched in view of the needs after Operation Sindoor. Although India is far ahead in drone technology, but here the need is for combat drones, in which the Indian companies are currently short of money. The biggest thing is that if the deal is finalized, then these combat drones will soon be made in India itself, because talks are also going on about technology transfer from Shield AI.
What is the deal the Ministry of Defence has made for combat drones?
Mint has recently published a report, according to which the Ministry of Defence is in a deal for combat drones with Shield AI. India is looking to buy V-Bat combat drones from Shield AI for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These drones are for use in war and have shown very good performance so far. Once the deal is finalised, Shield AI will first give the V-Bat combat drone to the Indian Air Force, and then it will be produced in India in a joint venture. There is a plan to produce it in India in a joint venture between JSW Defence and Shield AI. JSW Defence is a company of JSW Group.
What is the total amount involved in combat drones deal?
According to the report, this initial deal with the Indian Air Force will be worth $ 35 million, which is the upper limit of emergency purchase. While the joint venture that JSW Defense and Shield AI will set up for technology transfer to manufacture it in India, that deal will be worth $ 90 million. Later, this deal with the Air Force can be expanded further.
Why is India so keen to enhance its indigenous combat drones?
If the deal between Shield AI and the Ministry of Defence is finalised, then these drones can come to the Indian Air Force in the first half of 2026. As far as the V-Bat combat drone is concerned, the production of this indigenous drone is expected by the end of 2027. If the American company is ready to set up a joint venture in India in this way in the field of defence, then it can be considered a major achievement in the field of defence manufacturing. Because, after Operation Sindoor, India is feeling a great need to be prepared for contactless war.
What are the features of V-Bat Combat Drone?
The speciality of Shield AI’s V-Bat combat drone is that it can be used even without GPS. Not only this, it is capable of working even in jammed network systems. This can easily give an edge to those who use these drones in modern warfare. Ukraine has shocked the whole world by using this drone against Russia. These drones can hit targets with such accuracy that the drones being made in India are not as capable as these drones. In India, Idea Forge and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are currently making indigenous drones.
