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

According to the request, NAL intends to jointly develop UAVs capable of carrying a 15 kg warhead, along with 10-15 kg of suitable sensing payloads. The aim is for these UAVs to possess modern performance characteristics, including a loitering endurance of 6 to 9 hours and a maximum range of 900 km, with an overall weight restricted to below 150 kg.

The proposed UAVs will also feature a maximum altitude of 5 km, indigenous hardware and software, the ability to operate without Global Positioning System (GPS) assistance, and stealth capabilities to minimise radar visibility, among other specifications.

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. Upon successful completion of flight testing, certification, and user acceptance, the bidder will be granted the first right to manufacture, market, commercialise, and provide after-sales support for the UAV.

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

The document further noted that loitering munition UAVs have gained popularity 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 loiter over a specific area in enemy territory for an extended period until they detect targets. The role of loitering munition UAVs in suppressing enemy defences has been demonstrated in recent conflicts, it added.