March 06, 2013: HAL will shortly be making a presentation to Home Secretary R.K. Singh on a proposed national plan on UAVs for internal security threats and cross-border terrorism. HAL recently carved out a separate UAV wing as part of its Bangalore Complex. While several different agencies in the country are involved in developing UAVs (ADE, NAL, ADA etc), HAL has decided to go the partnership route to build unmanned systems for the armed forces.

HAL already has a tie-up with IAI, and is likely to explore expanding this relationship to bigger, high performance systems to cater to the large UAV requirement in the Indian armed forces and paramilitary forces. HAL sources indicate the company is working towards organising a full-fledged menu of UAVs that it can offer—from micro and mini UAVs for manportable infantry deployment and special forces utility, to larger high endurance systems of the kind being developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment.