Reliance Group Partners with SAAB on Indian UAV Program

22 March 2015 - The Anil Ambani-led Reliance and Defense Aerospace Group has partnered with SAAB on a tender to produce up to 50 ship-launched unmanned helicopters.  

SAAB produces the Skeldar maritime UAV, in naval service with several European countries. The last day of submissions for the proposal worth up to ₹1,000 crore (10 billion) rupees was extended to 19 March.

Indian Navy to Acquire Shipboard UAVs

3 March 2015 - The Indian Navy has released a request for information (RFI) to industry seeking details about available naval shipborne unmanned aerial systems (NSUAS).  

The Navy intends to acquire up to fifty unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to complement the its land-based UAV squadrons.  The drones should be capable of operating from shore or naval vessels from 50 meters in length, with or without a flight deck.

Indian Navy Heron Crashes

13 December 2013 - An Heron UAV from Indian Naval Air Station (INS) Parundu crashed in to a grove of coconut trees at Atusilankattuvalasai near Ramnad.  The aircraft designated INAS 922 had been commissioned last year.

There were no casualties and the local naval commander attributed the crash to technical issues.  A Navy Heron had previously crashed short of the runway in May 2010 at Kochi.