IAF Invites Industry and Academia to Mehar Baba Competition‑3 for Swarm Drone Radar Development

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially launched the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition (MBC‑3), themed “Collaborative Drone‑Based Surveillance Radars.” Registration begins on 27 April 2026, inviting Indian industries, start‑ups, academic institutions, and research establishments to participate in developing swarm drone radar systems for contested environments.

Key Highlights of MBC‑3

• Announced by: Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth at Aero India 2025
• Theme: Collaborative swarm of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) functioning as airborne radar to detect, track, and report aerial targets
• Objective: Provide accurate target location to a centralised monitoring station in contested environments
• Registration: Opens 27 April 2026 via the official IAF portal Vision Document
• Support: Meritorious participants will receive development funding from IAF; top three winners will be awarded

Legacy of Mehar Baba Competition

• Launch Year: 2018, as an IAF initiative to encourage indigenous aviation technology development
• Economic Impact: Generated orders worth approximately ₹2000 crore for India’s unmanned systems industry
• Previous Editions:
  • MBC‑1 (2018): Swarm Drones for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations
  • MBC‑2 (2022–2024): Swarm Drone‑Based Foreign Object Debris Detection on Aircraft Operating Surfaces. Winners included Ayaan Autonomous Systems (Pune) and Fleet RF Pvt Ltd (Greater Noida)

Honouring Air Commodore Mehar Singh (“Mehar Baba”)

• Born: 1915, Lyallapur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan)
• Career: Joined Royal Air Force College, Cranwell in 1934
• Distinctions:
  • Awarded Distinguished Service Order (DSO) at age 29 for leadership and bravery
  • First IAF officer to receive the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
  • Led mission carrying the first Indian Army contingent to Srinagar in 1947
  • First to land at Leh airstrip, then the highest in the world

Why MBC‑3 Matters

• Strategic Innovation: Strengthens India’s defence capabilities in drone swarm radar technology
• Industry‑Academia Collaboration: Bridges gaps between research, start‑ups, and defence users
• Atmanirbhar Bharat: Supports India’s vision of self‑reliance in aerospace and defence technology

Takeaway

The Mehar Baba Competition‑3 is not just a contest but a national innovation platform—driving indigenous defence technology, fostering collaboration, and honouring a legendary air warrior. With registrations opening on 27 April 2026, Indian innovators have a unique opportunity to shape the future of aerospace surveillance.