Indian Air Force Launches 'Vayu Baan' Helicopter-Dropped Drone Project

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated 'Vayu Baan', its first helicopter-dropped drone project, aiming to enhance UAV capabilities. The project, led by the Directorate of Aerospace Design, invites bids for design and development from Indian vendors. The drone will autonomously navigate to targets, transmit real-time video, and conduct precision strikes while maintaining operational capabilities even under GPS jamming.

Published Mar 26, 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched 'Vayu Baan', its first helicopter-dropped drone project designed to enhance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities. The IAF issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) earlier this month for domestic vendors to design and develop the system.

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The drone will autonomously navigate over 50 km and remain airborne for about 30 minutes, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors for surveillance and target identification. It can operate without GPS and aims to allow helicopters to engage targets from stand-off ranges, reducing risk to aircrew. Development, testing, and delivery of an initial batch are expected within a year, including helicopter drop trials and high-altitude testing.