The Indian Army will procure 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators under Emergency Procurement (EP). The Army has signed a contract with local manufacturers and they will be delivered in 12 months.

• The long-endurance tether drone systems are contracted at an approximate value of Rs 250 crore and can be used in high-altitude areas, according to an official.
• According to sources, the contract for the drone system for long-distance surveillance and intelligence gathering along the borders was signed with indigenous company NewSpace Research Technologies Private Ltd.
• The contract for the other equipment was signed with Zen Technologies Limited, which will also involve skill development.
• The Indian Army had earlier contracted drones that can hit targets with 5-10 kg explosives from Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research & Technologies Pvt Ltd which is developing a range of drones including drone swarms.