An infantry soldier in the Indian Army has developed a 35 kg Octacopter drone equipped for surveillance, payload delivery, and remote firing. The drone, built by Hawaldar Varinder Singh of the 22 Sikh Regiment, has an operational range of 8–10 kilometers and has already been tested in real-world operations and military exercises.
The drone includes GPS, night-enabled zoom cameras, and autonomous flight features managed through mission-planning software. It is compatible with Defence Series Maps and open-source mapping systems.
The platform has been fitted and tested with a range of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, multi-grenade launchers, high explosive grenades, and light machine guns. It is capable of transporting weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, and other mission-critical materials to remote or high-altitude locations.
Initial development began in 2023 with a hexacopter prototype. The upgraded Octacopter was deployed during Operation Teesta in Sikkim in October 2023 following a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, and in military drills including Bharat Shakti.
Hawaldar Varinder Singh has received the Vishisht Seva Medal for his work on the drone.
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