A) What are the RPFs eminent in India for drones in defence?

Below list is of the RFPs released by MoD beween last quarter of 2022 and first quarter of
2023. Most of them are at various stages of the procurement process including field trials.
Some of the tenders issued are being retendered. There are a few Request for Information
for Drones, which I am privy to

1) RFP FOR PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 850 NANO DRONES ALONGWITH COMPLETE

ACCESSORIES THROUGH FAST TRACK PROCEDURE UNDER EMERGENCY.
2) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR
PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 163 LOGISTIC DRONE (HIGH ALTITUDE) WITH ACCESSORIES
UNDER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT THROUGH FAST TRACK PROCUDURE.
3) FOR PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 130 x TETHERED DRONE SYSTEMS UNDER EMERGENCY
PROCUREMENT THROUGH FAST TRACK PROCEDURE (FTP) CATEGORY : BUY (INDIAN)
4) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR
PROCUREMENT OF INTEGRATED DRONE DETECTION AND INTERDICTION SYSTEM (IMPROVED
VERSION)
5) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR
PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 100 LOGISTIC DRONE LIGHT WEIGHT WITH ACCESSORIES
UNDER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT THROUGH FAST TRACK PROCUDURE (FTP) CATEGORY :
BUY (INDIAN)
6) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR
PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 100 LOGISTIC DRONE HEAVY WEIGHT WITH ACCESSORIES
UNDER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT THROUGH FAST TRACK PROCUDURE (FTP) CATEGORY :
BUY (INDIAN)
7) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR
PROCUREMENT OF QUANTITY 100 LOGISTIC DRONE (MEDIUM ALTITUDE HEAVY WEIGHT)
WITH ACCESSORIES UNDER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT THROUGH FAST TRACK
PROCUDURE (FTP).
8) Request for Proposal (RFP) VOLUME. I FOR DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
OF DEFENCE TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE (DTI) FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS)
UNDER THE DEFENCE TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEME (DTIS).

B) Purchase practice of Indian Government.

Complete details of the procurement process is outlined in Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020
(latest version released on 18 Apr 2023 is available).

C) What are the prequalification for compaly to play in defence in drones.

Complete details are provided in Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (latest version released on 18
Apr 2023 is available).

D) What are the certifications required to play in civil, defence.

On the Civil side, operations of Drones in Indian is governed by Drone rules 2021, which states that
all drones operating in Indian must be type certified except Nano category and model Unmanned
Aerial Systems (UAS).
Certification of all civilian drones are governed by the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft
Systems, notified by the Government on 26 Jan 2023.

E) Potential to export in commercial market, head room for valuation gains basis tech/ ip
ownership.

Huge potential exists for export of both commercial and defence drones from India. The GoI has its
stated vision to make India the Drone Hub for the world by 2030. Tho achieve this the Govt has
introduced a slew of measures to energise and incentivise this sector. By introducing these
measures, the Govt hopes that the associated innovations and technologies grows, thereby the
entire industry grows. The measures includes:

• Setting up a Drone Directorate under DGCA

• Implementing the PLI scheme for the drone sector.
• Notifying the Drone Amendment Rules, 2022 to the Drone Rules,2021,
• Setting up the Digital Sky platform.
• Providing interactive Airspace Map indicating various zones for Drone operations
• Announcing 70 % subsidy for agri drones.
• Promulgating an SOP for drone application in spraying for soil and crop nutrients.
• Import Ban of Drones.
• SoI (Swamitva Project) and NHAI declaring all survey work to be done using Drones.

The startups in the Drone sector are increasingly showcasing their innovations/ technologies/ IPs and
are able to land with increased valuations and funding.

D) 4 majors in defence and commercial areas in ISR, cargo.

Idea Forge

Asteria Aerospace

Paras Defence and Space

Throttle Aerospace Systems

Daksha Drone