New Delhi, July 10 -- In a major push to strengthen border surveillance and enhance indigenous defence capabilities, India is fast-tracking the acquisition of 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones for its armed forces, defence sources said.

The project, valued at over Rs.20,000 crore, will be executed under the Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) category, aiming to cut dependence on foreign suppliers. A formal proposal is expected to be tabled soon before a high-level Ministry of Defence meeting.

Leading Indian defence firms including Adani Defence, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), IdeaForge, and NewSpace Research are expected to compete for the contract.

The drones will feature advanced surveillanc...