India’s Solar Defence Joins Race to Build 87MALE Drones for India Tri-Services

n a major step towards boosting India’s self-reliance in defence technology, Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited has officially joined the race to build 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones for the Indian Armed Forces. This high-stakes project, with an estimated worth of ₹20,000 crore, is a significant part of India’s push under the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission.

Solar Defence, which is backed by industrial explosives giant Solar Industries, may be relatively new in the aerospace sector, but it’s quickly making its presence felt. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already given the company official approval to develop a homegrown MALE drone, which is being tailored to meet the demanding requirements laid out by the military.

The drones being sought under this tri-services tender—led by the Indian Air Force (IAF)—are meant to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions across India's borders with China and Pakistan as well as the strategically important Indian Ocean Region. These UAVs will provide real-time intelligence to commanders and help in monitoring hostile activity, troop movements, and maritime threats.

To qualify, the drones must be capable of flying above 35,000 feet and stay airborne for more than 30 hours. They must also be at least 60% indigenous, ensuring that key technologies and manufacturing stay within Indian hands. These high-performance demands place the new drone in the same league as the U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper and Israel's Heron TP, both renowned for their long-range and high-altitude capabilities.

Although Solar Defence’s prototype is still under wraps, it is reportedly being engineered for 28–30 hours of flight endurance and an altitude ceiling of 30,000 feet, with further upgrades expected to meet the full requirement.

One of Solar Defence’s major strengths is its newly established UAV testing facility, which is designed to carry out advanced aerodynamic, payload, and endurance tests. This facility is vital for simulating real-world conditions—from the freezing altitudes of the Himalayas to the humid and corrosive environment of the Indian Ocean—ensuring that the drone performs reliably in all scenarios.

This dedicated infrastructure is expected to speed up development and gives Solar Defence a serious edge as it competes against other major Indian defence players like the Adani Group. What’s more, the company isn’t stopping at MALE drones—it has ambitions to develop even more advanced High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs capable of flying at 50,000 feet for over 36 hours, which could give India far-reaching surveillance and monitoring power over distant lands and sea lanes.

With this bold move, Solar Defence is positioning itself as a major contender in India’s future drone warfare capabilities, offering not just machines but indigenous innovation and strategic autonomy.