SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
At Aero India 2025, held in Bengaluru from February 10-14, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), showcased a scaled model of the Archer-NG Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), integrated with the Astra Mk1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
This display marked a significant milestone in India’s indigenous UAV development program, highlighting the country’s growing capabilities in unmanned systems. Building on this showcase, ADA has now revealed ambitious plans to develop a weaponized variant of the Archer-NG, equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, to expand its operational scope across air-to-air, air-to-ground, surveillance, and armed reconnaissance missions. According to details shared with idrw.org, this advanced variant promises to transform the Archer-NG into a multi-role platform with enhanced combat and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
The scaled model of the Archer-NG displayed at Aero India 2025 featured a sleek, twin-boom design with a single engine, reflecting its aerodynamic efficiency and payload-carrying capacity. A standout feature was its integration with two Astra Mk1 BVRAAMs, a ADA’s vision of evolving the UAV from a surveillance platform into a weaponized system capable of engaging aerial targets. The Astra Mk1, already operational with the Indian Air Force (IAF) on platforms like the Su-30MKI and Tejas Mk1A, offers a range of 80-110 kilometers and a speed of Mach 4.5, making it a potent weapon for air-to-air engagements.
ADA’s plans for the weaponized Archer-NG variant, as reported by idrw.org, center on integrating an AESA radar to significantly expand its operational capabilities. The proposed AESA radar will serve dual purposes: as a surveillance radar for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, and as a fire-control radar to guide the Astra Mk1 BVRAAM in air-to-air engagements.
Sources told idrw.org that each Archer-NG will be equipped with two Astra Mk1 missiles, enabling it to take out aerial targets such as manned helicopters, as well as unmanned MALE and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) systems operated by adversaries. This capability positions the Archer-NG as a unique asset in India’s UAV arsenal, bridging the gap between ISR-focused drones and combat-oriented platforms. The AESA radar’s ability to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously will enhance the UAV’s situational awareness, allowing it to engage threats like enemy drones or low-flying helicopters with precision.
In addition to its air-to-air role, the weaponized Archer-NG is expected to support air-to-ground missions, leveraging its payload capacity to carry precision-guided munitions such as the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) or laser-guided bombs. This multi-role functionality aligns with the Indian armed forces’ growing demand for versatile platforms capable of addressing diverse battlefield scenarios.
IDRW.org confirms that the current focus remains on obtaining certification for the non-weaponized variant. The weaponized variant is expected to take up to 3 years before trials can commence.
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