India’s Navy Chooses US Drones Over Indigenous Alternatives Amid Operational Imperatives

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the Vice Chief of the Indian Navy, revealed significant insights into India’s defence procurement challenges during a press conference on Tuesday. He stated that the US-made MQ-9B Reaper drones have proven to be more suitable for the Navy’s maritime surveillance needs compared to the domestically developed TAPAS UAV.

The MQ-9B Reaper, manufactured by General Atomics, offers extended range and endurance capabilities that are essential for monitoring India’s vast ocean territories. This assessment comes just a week after a landmark $4 billion deal was finalized for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B drones, with 15 units designated for the Indian Navy, while the Army and Air Force will each receive eight.

Vice Admiral Swaminathan remarked, “The TAPAS drones in its current form do not entirely meet our requirements,” emphasizing the need for reliable, sustained surveillance over extensive maritime regions, a capability wherein the TAPAS UAV reportedly falls short. Despite recognizing TAPAS as having "very good capability," he acknowledged that its development needs further refinement to meet the Navy’s operational standards.

The Vice Chief underscored the importance of developing multiple variants of TAPAS to achieve full combat effectiveness. He expressed optimism for future iterations of the drone, stating, "We hope the next version of TAPAS will be much better … We look forward to that day when we can make such drones like the MQ-9B and maybe TAPAS is the right way to go."

As the Navy continues to assess its needs in light of growing security challenges, particularly from increasing Chinese naval activities in the Indian Ocean Region, the decision to prioritize the acquisition of the MQ-9B drones highlights the balancing act between promoting indigenous defence production and addressing urgent operational requirements.

The Navy plans to maintain a dialogue with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to provide feedback aimed at improving the TAPAS program. This collaboration emphasizes the government’s commitment to self-reliance in defence technology even as it acknowledges the necessity of integrating proven systems into India’s military arsenal.