Seeking to bolster its ability to monitor movements of Chinese and Pakistani troops, the Indian Army is looking to procure 60 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
The Army issued a request for information (RFI), which stipulates that the drones should have a range of 200 kilometers and must remain operational at altitudes of 15,000 feet.
The RFI also says that the drones should be based on proven or matured technologies that do not require further fundamental research. Notably, the RFI adds that the drones will be developed and manufactured by an Indian company.
A request for proposal (RFP) is likely to be issued in January 2018.
The development comes around a month after Army chief General Bipin Rawat warned that the Indian military must prepare for a two-front war with India and Pakistan.
Just last week, the Army had accepted tender inquiries for an acquisition of 600 mini-UAVs. The force is looking to spend around Rs 950 crore to procure these mini-UAVs under a "buy Indian" scheme that will work to boost the Modi government's ambitious Make in India project.
The Indian Army already has four Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which were procured in 2011 and are tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory as well as reconnaissance, surveillance, target designation and artillery fire correction.