I came across this OSINT drone tracker for Indian armed forces:
INDIAN ARMED FORCES — COMPLETE UAV DRONE INVENTORY
He seems to be tracking Pakistan as well (last updated Mar 2026):
Pakistan Armed Forces — Complete UAV & Drone Inventory
INDIAN ARMED FORCES — COMPLETE UAV DRONE INVENTORY
He seems to be tracking Pakistan as well (last updated Mar 2026):
Pakistan Armed Forces — Complete UAV & Drone Inventory
Great to know we do have an ekranoplan firm:
IIT Madras incubated Waterfly Technologies preparing for 1st ocean trial of its Hummingbird Wing-In Ground (WIG) effect autonomous electric craft by Dec 2026.
- Hummingbird has 300 kg MTOW & 150 kg cargo payload
- Initial prototype weighed 30 kg
- 1000 km range, 150 kmph
- Skims 5 m above the sea level
- Earlier trials were held at Kaveripakkam lake
- Goal is to replace the intercontinental air cargo market with a 3000-tonne Hydrogen-Electric WIG craft
Imo:
- This firm should be of interest to the Navy & ICG. Earlier in 2023, Micronel Global: Unmanned Seaplane Zebra (pic 4) was awarded an iDEX winner. But current status is unclear & it's not WIG.
- Waterfly recognizes that the route to larger cargo ekranoplans is via defence sector: contested logistics, amphibious patrol etc.
- WIG effect makes sense for larger craft which is one reason why the Soviets went big here & Boeing Pelican proposal was massive. The US was working on the DARPA Liberty Lifter program but canceled in June 2026. So maybe smaller autonomous electric craft are the way after all.
- The endurance, range & payload claims, even if optimistic, should prove very competitive va seaplanes due to WIG.
- Can the Hummingbird be weaponized? Larger payload than drones, faster than kamikaze USVs, cheap enough, good range.. can be used for shore / offshore targets.
- Hybrid propulsion (ICE + electric) can also be explored.
Kalam labs products has been inducted by the army, most probably regiment of artillery,
But what's the range? For ISR drone 50km range the company claims,
What would be the actual range of strike drones?
If it anywhere near 200km range, you can pretty much hit Thier every forward bases with the drone,
Hoping that it's near somewhere 200km,
If it is 100km, then Thier SPG & radars, comms do fall in this target bracket,
Also Kalam labs signed contract with airforce and Navy,
The stratospheric kamikaze is 50+km range now. It will be 100+ km eventually. Under project KAL they are making a 1000+ km range. That would be a lower altitude loitering munition.
IAF had ordered 200 of these & have started receiving them in 2025. These drones have modular swapable payload. Payloads can be ISR sensors, anti-personnel, anti-tank warheads etc. Range: 150+ km.
SYENA ASTRA-1: Compact Design. Extended Endurance. Multi-Role Capability.
Pixiu Systems, SYENA ASTRA-1 is fixed-wing loitering munition. It gives small teams surveillance and precision strike in one system that fits in a backpack.
Key Features
1. Fixed-wing loitering munition platform
2. Fire-and-Forget operational concept
3. GPS-based strike capability
4. Dual role: surveillance and strike
5. Lightweight and cost-effective design
6. Backpack-compatible portable design
Technical Specifications:
Category: Loitering Munition
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 6.5 kg
Payload capacity: 1 kg (cruise with standard payload)
Endurance: >60 minutes
Wingspan: 1.60 m
Launch methods: Hand launch & pneumatic launch
Cruise speed: 21 m/s
Max speed: 35 m/s
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft AMSL
Great System
with about 100 km range with just 6.5 kg system, capable of hand launch and easier to be carried by one soldier each . Also provides both surveillance and strike capabilities in a single system. Great . Jai Hind.