NEW DELHI — April 2026 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a new development program for an Unmanned Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft under the Make-I sub-category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, marking a step toward autonomous recovery capabilities in high-risk operational environments.
The project, referenced as CF No/ Air HQ/C 18488/69/DAD and managed by the Directorate of Operations (Remote) at Air Headquarters, seeks to design, develop and manufacture a runway-independent unmanned platform capable of recovering downed aircrew in hostile territory without exposing additional personnel or manned aircraft to risk.
Operational Requirement and Role Expansion
The IAF’s requirement focuses on deploying an unmanned system for Combat Search and Rescue missions in contested airspace where conventional helicopter-based recovery operations may be considered too hazardous. By removing onboard crew, the platform is intended to conduct extractions in high-threat zones while reducing operational risk.
In addition to personnel recovery, the aircraft is expected to perform logistics missions, including the transport of supplies and equipment to forward operating bases, remote areas and terrain inaccessible to conventional aircraft. The system is designed to operate in challenging environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and degraded visibility scenarios such as whiteout conditions in snow-bound regions and brownout conditions in desert or dusty environments.
Technical Specifications and Performance Parameters
According to the project brief, the unmanned CSAR platform must meet defined operational and performance criteria. The system is required to support a minimum payload capacity of 400 kilograms, enabling it to carry at least four personnel or accommodate medical evacuation stretchers.
The aircraft must have a minimum radius of action of 200 kilometers and be capable of maintaining a loiter time of at least 45 minutes over the target area. Higher operational ranges are considered desirable.
Altitude requirements specify operational capability from sea level up to 16,000 feet AMSL, with a desirable ceiling of 20,000 feet AMSL to support high-altitude missions.
A key requirement is runway independence, with the platform required to take off and land on unprepared or unpaved surfaces. Additionally, it must maintain stability during operations in wind conditions of up to 30 knots, with a gust tolerance of ±10 knots during takeoff and landing phases.
Navigation, Autonomy and Mission Systems
The unmanned system will incorporate multiple navigation frameworks, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), IRNSS, and NAVIC. Importantly, the platform must retain full operational capability in GNSS-denied environments or electronically contested environments.
Autonomy is a central feature of the program. The aircraft must be capable of fully automated takeoff, navigation and landing without direct human intervention. For its primary mission, the system must autonomously search, detect, identify and land near downed personnel by integrating with Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs).
Indigenous Development Framework
The project is being executed under the Make-I category, which provides government funding support for prototype development. It aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at increasing self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Under program requirements, the platform must achieve a minimum indigenous content level of 50 percent, covering design, materials, subsystems and software.
Following prototype development, certification by CEMILAC and subsequent field trials, the Ministry of Defence plans to procure an initial batch of approximately 10 units. The acquisition will be conducted under the Buy Indian–IDDM category.
Industry Participation and Timeline
Indian defense companies meeting the eligibility criteria outlined in DAP 2020 have been invited to participate in the program. Desirable qualifications include experience in aviation manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), logistics support, and familiarity with certification and quality assurance processes under DGAQA and CEMILAC.
Interested entities are required to submit proposals along with responses to a detailed questionnaire by April 30, 2026, to the designated nodal directorate at Air Headquarters.
The IAF stated that detailed project specifications and preliminary staff qualitative requirements will be refined through industry consultations and feasibility assessments as the program progresses.
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