Indian Air Force (IAF) initiates Vayu Baan indigenous air-launched drone project

Key facts

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started work on Vayu Baan, the first indigenous air-launched effects (ALE) programme in India.
• The project is being led by the Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), Gandhinagar, which has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to domestic vendors for design and development.
• Vayu Baan is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight to operate as a surveillance asset or a precision-guided munition.
• The drone is expected to have an operational range of over 50 km and an endurance of approximately 30 minutes.
• The system will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors for target identification and the capability to operate in GPS-jammed environments.
• The IAF requires 10 drone units, two airborne control stations, and two ground control stations, with a target for delivery within one year.