SOURCE: AFI
Larsen & Toubro (L&T), a leading Indian multinational in engineering and defence technology, has introduced TEER, a state-of-the-art Aerial Target System developed entirely in-house. Designed to enhance weapons testing, operational training, and overall defence preparedness, TEER is being positioned as a potential replacement for the widely used Banshee Aerial Target System in India, reflecting the country’s push for self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
TEER, short for Manoeuvrable Recoverable Aerial Target (MRAT), is engineered to simulate advanced aerial threats with exceptional precision, speed, and versatility. The system features a high-performance turbojet engine and a modular catapult launch system, enabling rapid deployment and mobility to meet the evolving demands of modern warfare. Equipped with onboard payloads such as radar augmentation, infrared and smoke flares, and an Acoustic Miss Distance Indicator, TEER offers realistic, mission-relevant training scenarios for air defence weapon engagement exercises. Its recoverable design further enhances cost-effectiveness and reusability, a key advantage over expendable systems.
L&T claims that TEER’s advanced capabilities position it as a viable alternative to the Banshee, a British-designed target drone currently employed by the Indian Armed Forces for testing and training. The Banshee, manufactured by QinetiQ, has been a staple due to its adaptability and global use by over 40 nations, including India, where it supports trials for missiles and air defence systems. However, its reliance on foreign supply chains and the emergence of indigenous alternatives like TEER have prompted a shift toward homegrown solutions. L&T asserts that TEER’s high-speed and high-agility performance, coupled with its indigenous development, matches or exceeds the Banshee’s capabilities, potentially reducing India’s dependence on imported systems.
The company is also developing an advanced variant, TEER NG (Next Generation), configured as a High-Speed Low-Flying Aerial Target (HSLFAT). This variant aims to enhance payload capacity and emulate complex threats, making it suitable for testing next-generation air defence systems. This progression underscores L&T’s commitment to innovation, supported by India’s Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which serve as hubs for manufacturing and technological advancement.
TEER’s launch aligns with the broader modernization drive across the Indian military, where advanced training platforms are critical. The Indian Air Force’s exploration of new surveillance systems and the Army’s field trials with integrated electronic warfare simulations highlight the need for such technologies. Unlike the Banshee, which has faced scrutiny for its foreign origins and occasional supply constraints, TEER’s in-house development ensures greater control over production timelines and customization to meet specific Indian requirements.
While the Banshee remains a proven platform with a track record of over 10,000 units produced globally, L&T’s TEER offers a strategic opportunity to bolster indigenous defence manufacturing. The company emphasizes that its defence offerings exclude explosives or systems related to cluster munitions, landmines, or nuclear weapons, aligning with ethical production standards. If TEER successfully replaces the Banshee, it could also emerge as an export product, providing India with a competitive edge in the global market for aerial target systems.
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