Indian Navy Contracts ₹112.73 Crore HALE RPA Ground Infrastructure at INS Rajali

Overview

The Indian Navy has awarded a contract valued at ₹112.73 crore to SGC Group for the construction of ground infrastructure required for the immediate operation of a high‑altitude long‑endurance remotely piloted aircraft (HALE RPA) at INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu. The agreement, finalized after a two‑year procurement cycle, represents a pivotal step toward fielding unmanned aerial assets capable of sustained maritime surveillance. By establishing dedicated technical facilities, the Navy aims to ensure that the HALE RPA can be deployed from day one, supporting its broader strategy to monitor India’s extensive oceanic boundaries.

Project Details

The tender, overseen by the Military Engineer Services under the aegis of the Engineer‑in‑Chief’s Branch, attracted eight proposals. Technical disqualification eliminated one bid, leaving seven valid submissions. SGC Group emerged as the lowest financial bidder with a proposal of ₹112.73 crore, approximately 7.6 % below the estimated project cost of ₹122 crore. The contract stipulates a two‑year schedule for delivering all required facilities, including aircraft handling zones, mission‑support buildings, dedicated maintenance hangars, and associated utility infrastructure. The bid comparison also showed that CH Gowri Shankar Infra Build submitted a bid of ₹113.58 crore and Vishal Infrastructure Ltd offered ₹114.17 crore, confirming SGC’s competitive edge. The Engineer‑in‑Chief’s Branch completed the financial evaluation on 24 September 2026, marking a decisive step toward implementation. The infrastructure will allow the HALE RPA to commence operational flights without delay, integrating seamlessly with the Navy’s existing command and control systems, thereby accelerating the service’s unmanned capability roadmap.

Strategic Context

The procurement comes at a time when the central government has ordered 31 MQ‑9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft from the United States, allocating 15 to the Navy, eight to the Army and eight to the Air Force. Although the tender does not explicitly reference the MQ‑9B, the infrastructure is intended to support a HALE RPA platform that will complement the manned maritime patrol fleet. Long‑endurance unmanned systems require extensive ground support, including robust runway facilities, dedicated maintenance bays, and advanced mission‑control centres. Establishing such infrastructure at INS Rajali, a principal naval air base on the east coast, will enhance the Navy’s ability to conduct persistent surveillance over the Indian Ocean, thereby strengthening India’s maritime security and contributing to a network‑centric defence architecture. The HALE RPA’s extended loiter time and high‑altitude capability will provide continuous ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) coverage, filling critical gaps in maritime monitoring and supporting anti‑piracy, anti‑smuggling and disaster‑response operations. In addition, the HALE RPA capability is expected to bolster joint operations with the Army and Air Force, enabling real‑time intelligence sharing across services and supporting joint maritime security missions. The ability to operate from a forward base like INS Rajali reduces response times and enhances the responsiveness of naval assets during emergent situations, such as maritime boundary incursions or humanitarian crises. Furthermore, the development of indigenous ground infrastructure for HALE RPA operations may pave the way for future domestic production of unmanned aerial systems, positioning India as a regional leader in unmanned maritime surveillance technology.

Conclusion

The award of the ₹112.73 crore infrastructure contract to SGC Group highlights the Indian Navy’s resolve to build a resilient unmanned aerial foundation that will underpin future maritime surveillance capabilities.