Indian Naval Academy Twin Drone System: Key Features, AI Integration, and Significance

Indian Naval Academy Twin Drone System: Key Features, AI Integration, and Significance 

General Studies Paper III: Defence Technology, Indigenous Technology

Why in News? 

Recently, the Indian Naval Academy (INA) developed an indigenous twin-drone system integrating AI-based survivor detection, enhancing maritime search-and-rescue efficiency.

What is the Indian Naval Academy Twin-Drone System?

• About: The Twin Drone System is an indigenous, dual-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform.
  • It is specifically engineered to conduct long-range maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations by locating individuals stranded in open water and rapidly providing survival equipment.
  • It divides rescue support into two stages—aerial detection and flotation-aid delivery.
• Developed By: This innovative technology was indigenously conceptualized and built by a dedicated team of cadets and researchers at the Indian Naval Academy (INA) located in Ezhimala, Kerala.
  • Midshipman Sudhanshu Tanwar was one of the primary innovators leading the design and development of the multirotor UAV platform.
    • It represents a milestone in the Indian Armed Forces’ broader initiative for defense indigenization and institutional innovation.
  • The system was officially unveiled and demonstrated by the INA development team in New Delhi on October 27, 2026.
• Features: 
  • The scouting unit consists of a lightweight four-rotor quadcopter optimized for long-endurance search operations.
    • It boasts a maximum flight time of 45 minutes, a payload capacity of 0.5 kg, a top speed of 50 km/h, and an operating radius of 10 kilometers.
  • The payload delivery unit consists of a heavy-lift six-rotor hexacopter engineered to handle demanding maritime payloads.
    • It features a flight time of 25 minutes, a robust payload capacity of 2.5 kg, a top speed of 40 km/h, and a matching 10 km operational range. 
  • The scouting drone utilizes a deep-learning artificial intelligence model known as YOLO (You Only Look Once).
    • This software processes high-resolution live video feeds in a single forward pass, granting extreme accuracy when identifying humans bobbing in choppy seas. 
  • To counteract low visibility and intense sun glare at sea, the quadcopter is outfitted with 2K optical and thermal imaging cameras.
    • The thermal sensors actively spot human body heat signatures contrasted against cold ocean currents to ensure precise location locking. 
  • The two distinct aircraft do not operate in isolation; they communicate via a long-range radio frequency (RF) link.
    • This dedicated channel enables synchronized dual-UAV cooperative swarming, allowing real-time telemetry and data transfer.
• Operating Mechanism: The system initiates when the quadcopter patrols designated sea coordinates and uses the YOLO neural network to lock onto a survivor’s exact GPS coordinates.
  • The location data is instantly relayed to the hexacopter via RF link, prompting it to autonomously fly to the coordinates and hover. 
  • For safety, the payload release mechanism requires manual authorization from a human operator to drop the self-inflating lifebuoy, after which the hexacopter returns to base autonomously. 

Significance of Twin Drone Maritime Rescue System

• The twin-drone system enhances the tactical responsiveness of naval fleets during critical operations.
  • This provides frontline warships with localized, organic aerial assets that operate independently of heavy shipborne helicopters or distant shore bases. 
• In open-water emergencies, the system significantly improves survivability during man-overboard situations by bridging the gap between detection and rescue.
  • This platform provides immediate autonomous flotation support within minutes, securing the victim before secondary surface rescue vessels or divers reach the coordinates.
• The application of this technology successfully bypasses severe environmental constraints like sun glare and low visibility.
  • The system eliminates human fatigue during long visual lookouts. 
  • It ensures continuous day-and-night tracking capabilities over a wide 10-kilometer operational radius, maximizing success rates in choppy, unpredictable seas. 
• Developed directly by young cadets at Ezhimala, this breakthrough underscores the growing depth of institutional innovation within India’s defense academies.
  • This shifts the focus from theoretical training to practical, high-impact defense engineering solutions engineered for real-world warfare scenarios. 
• This fully domestic prototype aligns seamlessly with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defense manufacturing.
  • The system establishes a secure sovereign technology ecosystem. It significantly reduces foreign hardware reliance.
  • It serves as a prime example of the “Make in India” initiative transforming naval capabilities. 

Indian Navy Drone Innovations

• Drishti 10 Starliner: The Indian Navy has boosted its maritime domain awareness by inducting the Drishti 10 Starliner.
  • This advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform is an indigenously manufactured drone boasting an impressive 36-hour flight endurance and a 450 kg payload capacity. 
  • Armed with satellite communication, this all-weather military UAV operates smoothly across segregated and unsegregated airspaces to monitor remote corners of the Indian Ocean. 
• Matangi Autonomous Vessel: The Navy is rapidly embracing unmanned surface technology with the deployment of Matangi, an autonomous weaponized boat developed by Sagar Defence Engineering.
  • This 13-meter-long vessel features the advanced GENISYS autonomy system, allowing it to navigate waypoints, and track surrounding traffic entirely crewless. 
  • It achieves speeds up to 50 knots, operates for 48 hours, and can deploy loitering munitions or machine guns.
• Shipborne Spotter Drones: The Indian Navy has successfully deployed its first indigenous Maritime Spotter Drone from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
  • Developed by Sagar Defence Engineering, this multi-copter performs autonomous launch and recovery from moving warships. 
• Underwater Robotic Defense: Submarine warfare and coastal protection have entered a new era with the induction of the EyeROV TROUT.
  • These military-grade underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are custom-built to withstand challenging ocean currents.
  • They provide essential underwater surveillance, target detection, and stealth reconnaissance capabilities to safeguard India’s vast 7,500-kilometer coastline.
• Counter-UAS Technology: The Navy has deployed cutting-edge Counter-UAS systems. Devices like the indigenously built IG T-Shul handheld suppressor jam hostile drone signals instantly.
  • These tools neutralize enemy UAV swarm attacks, preventing unauthorized intelligence gathering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What is the twin-drone maritime rescue system unveiled by the Indian Naval Academy? 

An indigenous two-drone system combining AI-assisted survivor detection with GPS-guided lifebuoy delivery during maritime emergencies.

2. Where is the Indian Naval Academy located? 

The Indian Naval Academy is located at Ezhimala, Kannur district, Kerala, on India’s southwestern coast.

3. How do the two drones work together during maritime search and rescue operations? 

The quadcopter detects potential survivors using cameras and AI, while the hexacopter delivers a lifebuoy following GPS-guided navigation and operator authorisation.

4. What roles do the quadcopter and hexacopter perform in the rescue system? 

The quadcopter performs aerial surveillance and survivor detection; the hexacopter transports and delivers lifebuoys to people in distress at sea.

Disclaimer: Information in this article is based on official announcements and public records. Details may evolve over time.

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