IAF opens registration for Mehar Baba Competition-3 on collaborative drone surveillance radars
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition (MBC-3), inviting participation from Indian industry, start-ups, academic institutions, and research organisations to develop advanced collaborative drone-based surveillance radar systems. Registrations for the competition will open on April 27.
The initiative, announced earlier by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth during Aero India 2025, is themed “Collaborative Drone-Based Surveillance Radars.” It calls for proof-of-concept solutions using swarms of unmanned aerial systems that can function as airborne radars in contested environments.
These systems are expected to detect, track, and report aerial targets while transmitting precise location data to a central monitoring station. Selected participants will receive development funding from the IAF, with the top three entries earning additional awards.
The competition is part of the IAF’s broader push to boost indigenous innovation in specialised aviation and defence technologies.
According to the Air Force, the initiative has contributed to generating orders worth nearly ₹2,000 crore in the unmanned systems sector and encouraged collaboration between the military, industry, and academia on critical defence technologies.
Previous editions focused on applications such as swarm drones for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as drone-based foreign object debris detection on aircraft operating surfaces, attracting strong participation from start-ups and research institutions.
Launched in 2018, the Mehar Baba Competition honours Air Commodore Mehar Singh, a pioneering air veteran and the first IAF officer to receive the Maha Vir Chakra.
Known for landmark aviation missions—including the first landing at Leh and leading the initial Indian Army contingent to Srinagar in a Dakota aircraft—the decorated officer’s legacy continues to inspire innovation aimed at addressing real-world aviation challenges.
(DD News)
