New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition (MBC-3), aimed at advancing indigenous innovation in drone and radar technologies. Registrations for the competition will open on April 27, 2026.
The theme for this edition—“Collaborative Drone-Based Surveillance Radars”—focuses on developing a proof of concept for a swarm of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) functioning as an airborne radar network. These systems are expected to detect, track, and report aerial targets in contested environments while relaying accurate positioning data to a centralized monitoring station.
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The competition was previously announced by Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth during Aero India 2025. IAF is inviting participation from Indian industries, start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations. Selected participants will receive development funding, while the top three winners will be recognized with awards. Detailed guidelines are available in the official Vision Document hosted on the IAF website.
Since its inception, the Mehar Baba Competition has emerged as a significant catalyst in strengthening India’s unmanned systems ecosystem. The initiative has reportedly generated orders worth approximately ₹2000 crore for the industry.
Earlier editions of the competition addressed:
- Swarm drones for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
- Drone-based foreign object debris detection on aircraft operating surfaces
The initiative continues to serve as a collaborative platform bridging the gap between defence users, industry, and academia in developing critical aerospace technologies.
The competition is named in honor of Mehar Singh, a legendary air veteran known for his exceptional service. He led the historic 1947 mission transporting Indian Army troops to Srinagar and was the first to land at Leh, then the world’s highest airstrip. He was also the first IAF officer to be awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.