That's the problem.
You don't have any designs from abroad, and even if you did, you will need all types of components.
So tell me again in detail how you are recommending producing UAVs in india.
No different to how L&T will be producing K9 thunders, or how TATAs will produce C295s, or how Mahindra will be producing M777s. Or Mahindra/TATA producing naval helicopters from Bell/Airbus. Why is producing small to medium UAVs so unfeasible?
Initially, it might be in kits, then testing the final product. Eventually, sure, much of it could be produced from raw materials, but getting the ball rolling in even assembling it will be enough.
What I am saying, is actually being entertained.
NEW DELHI/LOD (ISRAEL): Israeli defence and aerospace major IAI said it has shortlisted three Indian companies for setting up a joint venture to make military drone aircraft under the “Make in India” initiative, with plans to roll out UAVs within two years of a deal being finalised.
Officials of the state-run Israel Aerospace Industries said Make in India is central to the company’s plans to expand in India, a key market for their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as Searcher, Heron and Harop.
“The next batch of UAVs will be made in India. We are in the process of picking a partner to make in India,” Eli Alfassi, IAI’s corporate vice-president for India operations, told a group of Indian journalists and experts that recently visited the firm’s headquarters in Lod.
“We have shortlisted three Indian companies, and once we finalise a partner, we will be ready to ‘make in India’ in two years,” he said.
Alfassi and Shalom Revivo, IAI’s corporate director for sales and marketing in India, declined to name the shortlisted Indian companies.
However, industry sources said Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata and the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group’s defence and aerospace section were in the race to partner IAI, whose annual global sales are to the tune of $4 billion.
The IAI officials acknowledged they had “some interaction with the Reliance Group but nothing has been signed”.
IAI has had a presence in India for 25 years, and its officials say the firm’s UAVs, strategic radar systems and sensors are currently used by India’s armed forces from “Kashmir to Thiruvananthapuram, Assam to Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar islands”.
The Indian army, navy and air force currently operate over 150 Israeli-made UAVs, including Searcher and Heron surveillance UAVs and Harop unmanned combat air vehicles.
The firm’s strategic radars have been deployed in areas such as Kutch in Gujarat and its homeland security and port protection systems are in use at several other places. The medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) successfully tested off the Odisha coast on Thursday too was developed jointly by DRDO and IAI.
Reliance Group, Tata Group and Mahindra and Mahindra are at the forefront of Indian companies vying for defence production capacity.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/busin...srael-s-iai/story-zm4rLm4IP4x3N9rUoZW9uN.html
Elbit Systems and Adani Enterprises have finalised a joint venture agreement to manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in India.
The new entity, Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India, was established on 7 November, and will operate in the aerospace and defence manufacturing sector.
It was announced in April that Elbit had signed a letter of intent with Adani for the JV, along with a separate agreement with Alpha Design Technologies. Both JVs involve pitching Elbit's Hermes 450 and 900 systems to the Indian market.
The new JV will try to break into the Indian UAV market that is largely dominated by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
After joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a full member in June, India is moving ahead to implement its plan to purchase the IAI Heron TP UAV.
India is operating the Heron 1 and other smaller Israeli-made UAVs, but the purchase of a strategic UAV like the Heron TP had been put on hold. Last year, India’s
The Economic Times claimed the government had quietly approved the purchase of 10 missile-armed Heron TPs from Israel.
israel is not a member of the MTCR, but has agreed to export its strategic weapon systems only to member countries. By joining the MTCR, India will be able to open a negotiation about the purchase of the Heron TP.
The Indian media has reported in recent months that the country's armed forces have a requirement for a large number of different categories of UAVs.
This, according to Israeli sources, explains the forming of the new joint venture, especially considering the current New Delhi government’s interest in transferring technology and skills to India.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/elbit-jv-targets-indian-uav-market-431338/
