IAF invites proposals for indigenous drone swarm radar system for surveillance in contested environments

NEW DELHI: Exploring domestic capabilities to develop collaborative drone-based surveillance radar systems, Indian Air Force has invited proposals under third edition of Mehar Baba Competition (MBC-3) from Indian industries, startups, academic institutions and research establishments.

The initiative aims to create a drone swarm system capable of detecting, tracking and reporting aerial targets in contested environments while providing an accurate real-time aerial picture to a centralised command.

Conventional radar systems are large, static installations that rely on fixed transmitter and receiver setups, making them easier to target. On the other hand, a drone swarm-based radar system is mobile and can be configured on the basis of mission requirements. It can operate as a distributed network rather than a single fixed unit.

“The collaborative nature facilitates operational continuity even if individual UAS are compromised, while their scalability allows them to adapt to missions of varying complexity, seamlessly integrated with existing surveillance systems to provide real-time intelligence for enhanced situational awareness and effective decision-making,” the IAF said.

The defence ministry said that the competition aims to encourage innovation in advanced drone and radar technologies and that meritorious participants will receive development funding from IAF, with the top three being honoured with awards.

Get real-time updates and result insights on the NEET UG Admit Card 2026.