India is preparing to launch a new generation of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) powered entirely by locally developed engines, signalling a major step in its push for defence self-reliance. According to a report in the Economic Times, the state-owned National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has entered into a public-private partnership with Solar Defense and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) to equip advanced drones with indigenous Wankel rotary engines.
For years, India has relied almost exclusively on foreign suppliers for UAV engines across all categories. The new collaboration represents a significant strategic shift as the country seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Under the agreement, NAL will transfer technology and lead the development of the aircraft, while SDAL will manage manufacturing pipelines and marketing both within India and internationally. The first platform to emerge from the collaboration will be powered by NAL’s 30-horsepower engine, which has already secured crucial certification for flight testing.
The drone is expected to remain airborne for up to nine hours and strike targets more than 560 miles away — a capability that would considerably expand India’s operational reach across land and maritime zones.
Sources cited by the publication noted that additional powerplants are also in development. A 50 hp variant is nearing its testing phase, while an even more powerful 90 hp version — intended for heavier, long-endurance UAVs — is being conceptualised. Both are expected to undergo flight trials and certification in the near future.
The new system is being engineered to operate even in environments where GPS access is degraded or denied, an increasingly common challenge in contemporary electronic warfare. Its AI-equipped payloads will enable real-time intelligence gathering and enhanced situational awareness, according to the report.
India has recently doubled down on domestic aerospace innovation. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Modi praised a national drone challenge created to support young innovators through the Indian Space Research Organisation. He also highlighted the inauguration of Skyroot Aerospace’s new Infinity Campus in Hyderabad as evidence of the private space sector’s rapid growth.
The UAV project marks another step in India’s broader effort to build a robust domestic defence ecosystem capable of meeting strategic needs while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
