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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to significantly enhance its surveillance and precision strike capabilities with the procurement of 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft under a project worth Rs 10,000 crore (US$ 1.2B).
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted the “Acceptance of Necessity” (AoN) for this initiative on July 3, 2025, as part of a broader Rs 1.05 lakh crore defense modernisation package.
These advanced platforms integrate cutting-edge sensors, communication systems, and Artificial Intelligence to deliver real-time intelligence, enabling precise battlefield surveillance and strike coordination.
The IAF aims to induct 3 state-of-the-art ISTAR aircraft, blending global aviation platforms with indigenous sensor technology developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The induction would position India among a select group of nations with elite air-to-ground surveillance capabilities.
A New Class of Airborne Intelligence: ISTAR is not a single system, but an integrated suite of advanced sensors and processing systems mounted on a long-range, high-endurance aircraft.
It combines multiple intelligence disciplines, electro-optical, radar, signals intelligence (SIGINT), and electronic intelligence (ELINT), to provide commanders with a comprehensive battlefield picture. Unlike conventional reconnaissance or surveillance aircraft, ISTAR systems go beyond just collecting data.
They analyze and fuse it in real-time using AI and advanced analytics, enabling actionable intelligence to be delivered to front line units and command centers with speed and precision. (The Eurasian Times)
