Indian Army Receives Indigenous Tethered Drones Strengthening Border Surveillance Capabilities

Taking an important step towards India’s defense self-reliance, Bengaluru-based startup Throttle Aerospace Systems has handed over its advanced tethered drones to the Indian Army. This delivery, which took place in early March 2026, is being considered an important achievement in the field of indigenous defense manufacturing. With the induction of these drones, the Indian Army’s ability to continuously monitor sensitive borders will be further strengthened.

Tethered drones are different from traditional unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These drones are connected to the control station on the ground through a cable, due to which they get continuous power supply and secure data transmission is also possible. Due to no battery limitations, such drones can remain in the air for continuous monitoring for several hours or even days. This is why they are considered extremely useful for long-term monitoring in high altitude and challenging areas.

These drones were transferred to Gopalpur Seaward Firing Range, where their field integration and operational trials were also conducted. According to defense experts, this step is considered important towards deploying these systems on the front lines soon.

These drones provide ‘Beyond Line of Sight’ (BLOS) surveillance capabilities and can be fitted with equipment such as electro-optical and infrared cameras. Apart from this, they can also be used as communication relays, which helps in maintaining contact between soldiers in difficult and inaccessible areas.

They are designed to operate in extreme cold, strong winds and harsh weather conditions, which is extremely important in border areas like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

This move is in line with the Self-reliant India initiative of the Government of India, under which indigenous technology is being promoted in the defense sector. Earlier in the year 2023, the Indian Army had signed a contract with companies like Newspace Research and Technologies to purchase 130 tethered drone systems at a cost of approximately Rs 250 crore.

Bengaluru’s defense startup ecosystem is fast emerging, with large institutions like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Defense Research and Development Organisation, along with many private companies working on advanced military technologies.

Experts believe that drones, swarm drones and multilayer aerial surveillance systems will play a decisive role in future wars. In such a situation, the use of tethered drones will strengthen the Indian Army’s better understanding of the situation and quick response capability.

Supply of such indigenous technology in the defense sector will not only reduce dependence on imports, but will also strengthen India’s strategic preparedness amid challenges in the global supply chain.

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