Indian Army’s, Fleur-De-Lis Brigade (2nd Independent Armoured Brigade) has reached a significant milestone in tactical drone warfare by successfully designing, testing, and validating an FPV drone fitted with a kamikaze-style anti-tank munition, marking the first project of its kind of the Indian Army.
In partnership with the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, this initiative, which began in August 2024, has involved thorough research, development, and testing to improve the effectiveness of low-cost, high-impact aerial strike systems.
The system underwent thorough testing, starting with explosive trials, followed by assessments of the aerial vehicle and the trigger mechanism. Each phase was validated by TBRL scientists, ensuring the drone’s effectiveness, precision, and dependability in delivering the payload. The successful outcomes position this pioneering FPV drone project as a transformative force multiplier in contemporary tactical operations.
A FPV Drone is a First-Person View drone, traditionally, pilots fly RC aircraft while looking at drones, called “line of sight” (LOS) flying. However, thanks to technological advances, pilots can now fly unmanned aerial vehicles by watching streaming real-time video from the drone’s camera connected to goggles
The FPV Drone
A FPV Drone is a First-Person View drone, traditionally, pilots fly RC aircraft while looking at drones, called “line of sight” (LOS) flying. However, thanks to technological advances, pilots can now fly unmanned aerial vehicles by watching streaming real-time video from the drone’s camera connected to goggles.
The FPV drone was fully constructed in-house at the Rising Star Drone Battle School, which has produced over 100 drones within the unit by March 2025. This self-sufficient approach provided full control over the build quality, component integration, and real-time adjustments based on TBRL guidelines. It also enhanced the drone’s structural integrity, weight distribution, and flight dynamics, ensuring superior manoeuvrability and efficiency for operational use. It also optimises structural integrity, weight distribution, and flight dynamics, making the drone highly manoeuvrable and effective for operational deployment.
The FPV drone was fully constructed in-house at the Rising Star Drone Battle School, which has produced over 100 drones within the unit by March 2025. This self-sufficient approach provided full control over the build quality, component integration, and real-time adjustments based on TBRL guidelines
The Indian Army in a statement, about the versatility of the drone said that the trigger mechanism of the drone has been carefully crafted to integrate dual safety features, guaranteeing that the payload can only be armed and released under tightly regulated conditions. It is activated solely by the pilot using the radio controller, preventing accidental detonation, increasing reliability, reducing risks for pilots and the personnel handling the drone and ensuring accurate deployment during missions.
Furthermore, a live feedback relay system delivers real-time updates on the payload’s status to the pilot through the FPV goggles, allowing for better decision-making while operating the drone.
FPV drones gained prominence during the Russia-Ukraine war, where they demonstrated their capacity to alter battlefield dynamics by effectively neutralising substantial and costly military assets such as tanks.
The Indian Army’s 2 Para, has already inducted five of these new, yet unnamed drones, and a larger order for 95 is being followed up. Each system cost about Rs 1.4 lakh, but the cost will tend to come down once the production increases
The FPV drone was fully assembled in-house at the Rising Star Drone Battle School, which has produced over 100 drones as of March 2025.
Reportedly, the system has been developed by Major Cephas Chetan in conjunction with a team of the Chandigarh-based Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.
The Indian Army’s 2 Para, has already inducted five of these new, yet unnamed drones, and a larger order for 95 is being followed up. Each system cost about Rs 1.4 lakh, but the cost will tend to come down once the production increases.
