🇮🇳 𝐌𝐨𝐃 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦�
�𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢
𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐝��𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 (Nano, #Micro, Small types like #quadcopters) much safer from hacking and spying.
Stakesuggestions by 8
April 2026 on ddgtechres-mod@gov.in
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢
𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 : #Drones are now widely used in modern wars for #spying, attacks, and operations. But if they have weak parts, enemies can intercept radio signals (using Man-in-the-Middle or SDR attacks), jam or spoof GPS to make the drone lose its way or crash, hijack full control, steal video/data, or insert malware through firmware updates.
The draft identifies 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 that need strict checks: Electronic Speed Controller (ESC), Flight Controller + Firmware, Tx/Rx radio unit, GPS/INS navigation, sensors, Ground Control Station software, and more.
𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
Hardware checks like IC delayering, tamper resistance, secure boot verification, PCB layer inspection (to hide sensitive traces), counterfeit detection, and SoC protection.
Software tests like strong encryption for keys/certificates, memory protection (ASLR/DEP), Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), code signing, and safe update procedures.
All tests follow global standards (ISO 15408, 27001, IEC 62443, etc.) and will be done in approved Indian labs (QCI/NABL). Vendors must share full documents, SBOM/HBOM lists, and al
low destructive testing.
Many cheap drone parts (flight controllers, cameras, radios, chips) come from #China. Security experts and past incidents show risks of hidden backdoors that could secretly send sensitive data (mission plans, locations, images) back to C
hina, allow remote hijacking, or cause failures during operations especially near borders with China or #Pakistan. India has already cancelled drone contracts worth crores after finding Chinese parts, and there have been reports of Indian Army drones being hacked or vulnerable due to such components. This framework acts as an interim safety net to block risky foreign (mainly Chinese) parts until India fully builds its own sec
ure supply chain.
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 : From the first tender stage, defense forces will demand these tests. #Companies passing get listed; fake documents lead to blacklisting. The goal is secure drones that cannot be easily hacked, protecting natio
nal security.
Once approved, this
will become mandatory for all small drone purchases by the Indian Armed Forces.
#DroneSecurity #AtmanirbharBharat #IndianDefence