Mumbai. ideaForge Technology Limited on October 6 launched two new variants of its multi-role tactical UAV platform, ZOLT: ZOLT Hybrid and ZOLT Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), strengthening its tactical UAV portfolio and marking its entry into the Long-Range ISR and UCAV segments. ZOLT UCAV is powered by a battery, while ZOLT Hybrid combines an IC engine with battery power to deliver extended flight time.
From persistent ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) to precision effects, ZOLT brings together long-range reach and mission versatility in a single recoverable platform. Designed for day and night operations across varied terrain, environmental conditions, and altitudes, it supports a broad range of tactical missions in demanding Electronic Warfare (EW)-contested environments.
At the core of ZOLT is ideaForge’s indigenous EW-resilient technology stack, built around Anti-Jam Communications, GNSS-Denied Navigation, and Onboard Intelligence. These capabilities support communication and navigation resilience when signals are degraded, disrupted or denied, while onboard processing supports decision-making at the edge and reduces dependence on continuous data links.
The ZOLT UCAV variant is built for tactical missions and precision effects, with 2-3 hours of endurance, 30-50 km Line of Sight (LOS) transmission, and launch altitude up to 4,500 m AMSL; whereas the ZOLT Hybrid is built for extended missions and persistent overwatch, with 6+ hours of endurance, up to 100 km LOS transmission, and launch altitude up to 2,000 m AMSL.
Building on the ZOLT Hybrid platform, ideaForge is soon set to also introduce a High-Altitude variant designed for operations in contested terrains, with a launch altitude capability of up to 4,000 m AMSL.
Across configurations, ZOLT supports border and frontier surveillance, tactical reconnaissance, battlefield and fire-support intelligence including Direction of Own Artillery Fire (DOOAF), target acquisition, day and night long-range surveillance. The platform can be configured with ideaForge’s NAKSH family of ISR payloads for electro-optical, infrared and Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) observation, laser ranging, and tracking.
Sachin Pukale, AGM of Product Management, ideaForge Technology Limited, said, “The tactical long-range UAV field is evolving from platforms that primarily see the battlefield to systems that can contribute more directly to the mission. With ZOLT Hybrid and ZOLT UCAV, we are extending that capability across different tactical requirements while retaining a common platform architecture and the resilience needed for contested environments. This gives users greater flexibility to balance endurance, reach, and mission needs as operational requirements continue to evolve.”
