Bharat Forge’s Rs 300 Cr Deal: Indigenous Drones, Loitering Munitions To Boost Army, Navy’s Reach On Battlefield
UAV Omega One was displayed onboard an upgraded BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle during the Army Day Parade in Jaipur. Image courtesy: Bharat Forge
Indian Armed Forces’ growing reliance on drones is no secret as these unmanned aerial vehicles continue to find a greater use amid modern warfare. May 2025’s Operation Sindoor, which India launched in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, emerged as the perfect example of the same, minimising human intervention for high impact.
To further boost the rapidly expanding unmanned warfare capabilities, Bharat Forge has bagged drone contracts worth nearly Rs 300 crore from the Indian Army and the Indian Navy, strengthening the armed forces’ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) architecture amid evolving security challenges.
The deal comes at a time when modern battlefields are being reshaped by drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and loitering munitions, prompting Indian forces to accelerate induction of indigenous unmanned platforms across land and maritime domains.
Bharat Forge drone deal: What the big order includes
According to Bharat Forge, the contracts cover a range of indigenous unmanned systems, including ISR drones and loitering munitions, designed to meet urgent operational requirements across diverse terrains and mission profiles. The platforms being inducted include Omega One, Omega Nine, Bayonet, and Cleave.
These platforms “are developed for India to meet urgent operational requirements across diverse terrains and mission profiles”, Bharat Forge said. Moreover, they are tailored for reconnaissance, target acquisition, surveillance, and precision strike roles, significantly enhancing situational awareness and real-time intelligence for frontline commanders.
Why drones matter more than ever
The growing use of drones has emerged as a defining feature of modern conflicts, from Ukraine to West Asia, where unmanned systems are being deployed for persistent surveillance, battlefield monitoring, precision attacks and swarm operations.
For the Indian Army and Navy, drones have become force multipliers, providing eyes beyond the horizon, reducing risk to personnel, and enabling faster, data-driven decision-making in contested environments. The latest Bharat Forge induction will expand the military’s ability to conduct round-the-clock ISR missions, particularly in border areas, coastal zones, island territories and high-risk operational theatres.
AI, autonomy and battlefield survivability
Bharat Forge said its unmanned systems portfolio is evolving rapidly, with advanced autonomy, artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making being progressively integrated across platforms. “These enhancements boost mission endurance, precision, survivability and adaptability in contested and dynamic operational environments.”
Bharat Forge further underlined how AI-enabled drones can operate effectively even under electronic warfare and counter-drone threats.
Omega One showcased at 78th Army Day
Highlighting the growing maturity of India’s indigenous drone ecosystem, Omega One UAV was displayed onboard an upgraded BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle during the Army Day Parade in Jaipur on Thursday (January 15, 2026), showcasing its integration with mechanised formations.
Amit Kalyani, Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge Ltd, said the twin milestones underline the company’s strategic focus. “This dual achievement—securing EP-VI contracts and showcasing Omega One on Army Day—reaffirms BFL’s commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
Meanwhile, the induction of these drones underscores the Indian armed forces’ push for indigenous, scalable and rapidly deployable solutions aligned with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Bharat Forge said the programmes leverage a surge in domestic production capacity, ensuring fast delivery timelines.
