World · India Bureau
Hyderabad firm launches joint venture for advanced MALE-300 surveillance drone
RADPL, a Hyderabad-based defence technology company, has announced a joint venture to develop the MALE-300, a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across the region.
LSN India ·
The MALE-300 represents a significant advancement in indigenous drone technology, featuring a 30-hour endurance capability that positions it among the region's most capable unmanned systems. The aircraft is designed to operate at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet, providing extended coverage for extended surveillance missions across vast geographical areas.
The drone is equipped with a modular payload capacity of 300 kilograms, allowing operators to configure various sensor packages based on mission requirements. This flexibility enables the platform to support multiple roles including reconnaissance, target acquisition and real-time intelligence gathering.
The joint venture structure underscores growing momentum in South Asia's unmanned systems sector, where demand for indigenous drone solutions has accelerated due to strategic considerations and operational requirements. The MALE-300 is positioned to address the surveillance needs of government and defence agencies across the region.
The project builds on India's broader push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing and advanced technology development. Companies in Hyderabad's growing aerospace and defence cluster have increasingly focused on developing unmanned systems to reduce dependence on imported platforms.