SOURCE: AFI
At Swavlamban 2024, a landmark event showcasing India’s push toward defence self-reliance, one particular exhibit caught attention—the Multi-Utility Long Endurance (MULE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) developed by Pune-based Altair Industrial Technologies Pvt. Ltd for the Indian Navy, this unmanned aerial platform is poised to expand the boundaries of maritime technology and power the Indian Navy’s naval self-reliance mission. As the MULE prepares for its developmental trials, speculation has emerged about the origin of its design, raising important questions about its local development and external influences.
The MULE RPA is a cutting-edge unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for a variety of maritime roles, from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to strike missions using its missile armament. With an endurance of 120 minutes and a range of 300 kilometers, it is expected to offer a versatile platform for the Indian Navy, enhancing its capabilities in maritime patrolling, monitoring of adversarial movements, and potential engagement with enemy assets. MULE aims to fill critical gaps in India’s maritime defense ecosystem, particularly as the Indian Navy increases its focus on unmanned platforms.
Despite the excitement surrounding MULE’s developmental trials, several observers have raised questions regarding its design. Many have pointed out a strong resemblance between the MULE and the RZ-500 unmanned combat helicopter developed by Ukraine’s private defense firm Ramzay. The RZ-500 is described as a low-observable, missile-armed, multipurpose UAV with similar performance metrics, including an endurance of up to 120 minutes and a 300 km range. This similarity has led to speculation about whether the MULE RPA is a fully indigenous platform or if it draws heavily from existing Ukrainian technology.
The RZ-500, with a weight of approximately 500 kilograms, is capable of full autonomous operations and uses GPS for navigation, receiving command and control instructions from remote operators. If MULE’s design is indeed based on or inspired by the RZ-500, it raises questions about the origin of the program and the extent of technology transfer involved in its development.
The resemblance between the MULE and RZ-500 has led to broader concerns regarding the Indian Navy’s involvement in the project. Some defense analysts and industry insiders have questioned whether the Navy was fully aware of the potential Ukrainian origin of the design when it decided to fund the program. These questions are particularly important given India’s emphasis on developing truly indigenous defense technologies under the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
It remains unclear if the MULE was developed entirely locally by Altair Industrial Technologies or if foreign technology played a significant role in shaping its design. The company has yet to provide a detailed clarification regarding these speculations. The involvement of the Indian Navy in funding the project also adds complexity to the situation, as any significant reliance on foreign technology could potentially undermine India’s self-reliance goals.
Despite these questions, the MULE RPA is gearing up for its developmental trials, which will likely provide more insights into the platform’s capabilities and origins. These trials will be critical in validating its performance metrics and operational viability for the Indian Navy. The success of these tests will not only determine the MULE’s future but also offer a glimpse into India’s evolving unmanned warfare capabilities.