Indian Army orders 225 high-altitude FPV drones for Ladakh frontier

The Indian Army placed an order for 225 first-person view drones to be deployed at its high-altitude posts in Ladakh, where some positions sit above 18,000 feet. Gurgaon-based Aerodrone Robotics, founded by retired Lt Col Randeep Hundal, secured the contract after extensive competitive evaluation and trials that reached 17,500 feet, testing endurance, accuracy and speed in thin, cold conditions. The procurement aligns with the Army’s ongoing modernisation drive that prioritises unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, logistics and strike roles along the Line of Actual Control with China.

While the contract’s monetary value remains undisclosed, the order marks a transition from earlier drone showcases to a concrete acquisition. Indigenous manufacturers, including Apollyon Dynamics, Quantum Tech, DroneYards and Rising Star, are also supplying or trialling similar platforms, reflecting India’s push for domestic defence capability. The new drones are intended to enhance situational awareness and reduce reliance on costly helicopter sorties in the challenging Himalayan environment.