Vayu Baan Helicopter-Launched Drone Project

under development

The Indian Air Force has started developing its first helicopter-launched drone project named 'Vayu Baan', a homegrown air-launched effects (ALE) system. It is a compact and autonomous drone designed to be released mid-air from a helicopter, capable of surveillance or precise strike operations, including kamikaze-style attacks. The project is led by the Air Force's Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD) in Gandhinagar, with domestic vendors invited to participate in design and development. The drone is expected to have a range exceeding 50 kilometers, flight duration of around 30 minutes, and advanced sensors to operate even in GPS-jammed environments. The plan is to complete development, testing, and initial delivery within a year.