CIOInsider India Magazine
Engineering the Future: Modern UAVs and Naval Systems
Anant Bhalotia is a seasoned business leader with over 20 years of extensive experience in the Unmanned Systems technology from design, development, production, sales, to service support. With growing aerial and naval threats, he is focused on bringing futuristic international-level technologies to India under Make in India, Make II scheme and IDDM scheme, aligning with the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Unmanned systems have moved beyond experimental testing because they now transform the way warfare operates. The combination of AI technology with materials science and control system progress has made UAVs and naval drones suitable for frontline operations because they provide extended operational time and precise targeting and autonomous flight capabilities. The Indian military uses these platforms to achieve defense independence in defense capabilities while supporting Make-in-India initiatives and domestic research and development objectives.
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Advanced Materials and Structural Innovation
The strength and lightness of modern UAVs depend on composite materials which include carbon-fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP). The combination of fatigue resistance and corrosion protection in CFRPs enables UAVs to stay airborne for extended periods while performing high-altitude operations. The integration of composite materials in Indian drones has resulted in reduced weight and enhanced payload capacity.
Innovations such as self-healing materials and adaptive coatings automatically repair cracks and modify their structure in response to stress levels. High-performing UAVs, including India’s reliable systems like Shikra series, operate in harsh desert and mountain and maritime environments which reduces maintenance time and extends their operational duration. The development of advanced structures enables drones to transport additional sensors and munitions while maintaining their operational stability.
AI-Driven Autonomy and Swarm Coordination
The fundamental element of future unmanned systems depends on artificial intelligence technology. The onboard AI system enables drones to perform autonomous flight operations and mission planning and target detection which results in better operator efficiency and faster response times.
The most significant development in warfare emerges from swarm tactics which operate similarly to natural systems. The swarm technology enables multiple UAVs to function as one unit through data sharing and autonomous task reallocation and formation maintenance. The swarm system instantly adjusts when any drone becomes non-operational. The combination of swarm technology delivers enhanced operational resilience and expanded capabilities at affordable costs.
The psychological impact of swarms as weapons becomes significant because they create defense saturation while disrupting radar systems and forcing opponents to make urgent choices under high pressure. The development of swarm-enabled UAVs by India aims to create multi-domain effects through electronic warfare and target saturation which enhances both deterrence capabilities and battlefield flexibility.
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Power, Propulsion, and Endurance
Each mission requires its own specific propulsion system for operation. Jet-powered platforms deliver fast operation and agile flight capabilities which make them suitable for target simulation and tactical strike missions. The fast ascent capabilities and broad operational range of UAVs like Shikra Jet 80+ enable them to replicate enemy aircraft behavior during training exercises and actual combat missions.
Endurance platforms that need to stay airborne for
extended periods use electric power systems and hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid power systems. The combination of gasoline power with battery power in hybrid engines enables longer flight duration while hydrogen prototypes show potential for flights exceeding 10 hours. Solar-powered UAVs provide additional duration in flight operations. UAVs now achieve extended border surveillance and coastal monitoring and hostile zone surveillance through these technological developments which surpass traditional systems.
Precision Strike and Loitering Munitions
Loitering munitions unite surveillance capabilities with strike functions within small platforms. The systems use electro-optical sensors and infrared guidance and artificial intelligence recognition to detect targets before executing attacks with reduced collateral damage.
India is creating platforms that increase operational reach, lower risks, and strengthen self-reliance by fusing AI autonomy, advanced materials, propulsion innovation, and domestic R&D.
- The systems launch without runways through vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and rail-based systems.
- The drones maintain extended hovering periods which allows users to select optimal attack times.
- They use radar activation to suppress enemy air defenses before launching their attacks.
- The system operates at lower costs than manned strike aircraft.
The Indian military can use loitering munitions to extend its attack range while protecting pilots and strengthening its deterrence capabilities in disputed areas.
Autonomous Naval Systems
The need for autonomy exists at the same level as it does on land. The Indian government works to develop Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) which serve for maritime surveillance and defense operations.
The most advanced vessels like Triton AUSV use dual-operational capabilities which allow them to function both above water and beneath the surface. These solar-powered modular platforms execute various tasks which include ISR and environmental monitoring and mine countermeasures and anti-submarine warfare.
The country needs these vessels because it possesses extensive coastal areas and essential maritime routes. These vessels maintain continuous domain surveillance while operating effectively without GPS signals and they connect seamlessly with naval and coastal defense networks. Through partnerships and indigenization programs India develops advanced designs for local requirements while creating domestic capabilities.
The Human and Indigenous Edge
While technology is advancing rapidly, India’s real differentiator is its indigenous ecosystem and expertise of multidisciplinary teams, which has brought together engineers, designers, and operators working in harmony towards mission-ready systems. Programs such as iDEX and Make-in-India are incentivizing startups and academia to create swarm drones, loitering munitions, and autonomous naval platforms.
Local manufacturing and high domestic content reduce dependence on imports, strengthen supply chains, and improve reliability. Training initiatives are ensuring the armed forces can integrate unmanned systems effectively, while academic programs are preparing the next generation to manage autonomy, cyber resilience, and AI ethics.
This human capital, paired with policy support, ensures that India’s unmanned systems are not just technologically advanced but also sustainable and strategically independent.
Toward Integrated Domains
Cross-domain integration is key to the future of unmanned systems. Interconnected networks will be formed by AUVs underwater, ASVs on the surface, and UAVs in the air. Commanders will have real-time multi-domain awareness thanks to data flowing into AI-driven command systems from these autonomous platforms.
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Such integration will accelerate decision-making, enhance flexibility, and reduce risks to human personnel. Swarms and autonomous naval vessels will serve as force multipliers in contested environments, identifying, thwarting, and discouraging threats before they reach vital assets.
Conclusion
India's upsurge in unmanned systems is a strategic move rather than just a technical advancement. India is creating platforms that increase operational reach, lower risks, and strengthen self-reliance by fusing AI autonomy, advanced materials, propulsion innovation, and domestic R&D.
Over the next ten years, a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and self-governing ships will coexist in Indian skies and seas, gathering intelligence, making targeted strikes, and defending the country's sovereignty. These days, unmanned systems represent creativity, tenacity, and strategic vision in addition to being weapons of mass destruction.
