By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: To boost its armed forces’ capabilities to reach supplies and equipment to soldiers deployed in mountainous terrain, India is seeking to buy 163 logistics drones under the emergency procurement through the fast-track route.

On Oct. 17, the Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from Indian vendors, under the ‘Buy (Indian)’ category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. The last date to respond to the RFP is Nov. 11.

The drones are to be supplied along with accessories. The indigenous content in the drone should by over 60 percent and in case of an Indian design, the indigenous content has to be a minimum of 50 percent.

“The Government of India invites responses to this request only from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) or Authorised Vendors or Government Sponsored Export Agencies (applicable in the case of countries where domestic laws do not permit direct export by OEM) subject to the condition that in cases where the same equipment is offered by more than one of the aforementioned parties, preference would be given to the OEM,” the RFP document, accessed by DefenceCapital said.

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