I-STAR: India’s eyes in the sky? IAF set to get Rs 10,000 crore indigenous spy planes

The Indian Air Force is set to receive a major capability boost with the government preparing to clear a Rs 10,000 crore project to acquire cutting-edge I-STAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) aircraft.

These high-altitude spy planes will allow the IAF to conduct pinpoint strikes on critical enemy targets such as radar sites, mobile air defence units, and command posts — even from stand-off ranges.

Sources told ANI that the Defence Ministry is expected to take up the proposal later this month at a high-level meeting, amid the Indian military’s ongoing Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

High-tech eyes in the sky with indigenous systems

The I-STAR project involves procuring three advanced aircraft — likely from international aviation giants like Boeing or Bombardier — which will then be fitted with fully indigenous sensor and electronic systems. These onboard surveillance and targeting systems have already been developed and tested by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS).

The Indian-built systems will provide multi-spectral surveillance, enabling forces to detect, locate and track enemy assets with precision — day or night, even in complex terrain. Officials said the integration work would be swift since the tech has already been proven.

Once operational, the aircraft will offer a dynamic, real-time picture of the battlefield, making India one of the few countries in the world with such strategic air-to-ground surveillance and strike coordination capabilities. Only a handful of nations — including the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel — currently operate such platforms.

Precision strikes from afar, round-the-clock

The I-STAR system combines both airborne and ground-based components, and is designed to operate from stand-off ranges at high altitudes. Its job is to assist the IAF in identifying and engaging high-value ground targets without crossing into hostile airspace — an increasingly critical requirement in modern warfare.

With the ability to carry out intelligence gathering, real-time surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISR), the aircraft will allow India to limit the scale of conflict while neutralizing threats with surgical precision.

Officials said this system will not only strengthen India's deterrence capability, but also help in swift retaliation in conflict scenarios, enhancing national security preparedness across borders.

(With inputs from ANI)