Optiemus Unmanned Systems unveils cutting-edge drones to strengthen India’s defence capabilities
New Delhi, April 23. In a major push towards enhancing India’s defence technology and promoting indigenous manufacturing, Optiemus Unmanned Systems (OUS), a subsidiary of Optiemus Infracom Limited, on Wednesday launched four advanced drones at the Milipol India Exhibition 2025 in New Delhi.
Designed for high-altitude, long-endurance missions in GPS-denied and electronic warfare (EW) environments, the new drones underscore the company’s growing focus on next-generation military solutions.
The lineup includes:
Marak VT100: A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone built for high-altitude operations. Equipped with a 30x EOIR (electro-optical and infrared) camera, the Marak VT100 provides day-night surveillance with an operational range of 20 km and an endurance of 3 hours – extendable to over 50 km with additional equipment.
Vajra QC55: A multirotor drone featuring EOIR cameras and AI-powered real-time imaging analytics. With a range of 10 km and over 80 minutes of endurance, it is tailored for reconnaissance and rapid-response operations in challenging terrains.
Canister-Launched Loitering Munition: A high-speed attack drone capable of flying up to 30 km with a payload of 2.5 kg. Featuring AI-driven tracking and stabilized EO/IR payloads, the drone can be launched from land, sea, or air platforms and supports beyond-line-of-sight targeting.
First Person View (FPV) Drones: These drones are equipped with optical fibre cable (OFC)-based navigation, allowing them to operate undeterred by electronic warfare systems. Two models were showcased, with varying payload capacities (1 kg and 350 grams) and endurance levels (over 15 and 30 minutes respectively). The OFC navigation system is also compatible with all other OUS drones.
The new products highlight OUS’ commitment to developing robust unmanned aerial systems tailored to India’s defense needs. In a significant move aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, OUS has partnered with Taiwan-based Avix Technology to jointly develop, manufacture, and assemble high-performance drone components – including camera systems and gimbals – within India.
Speaking at the launch, Ashok Gupta, Executive Chairman of Optiemus Group, said: “These newly launched drones represent the future of autonomous aerial operations, combining advanced engineering with local manufacturing. Our collaboration with Avix marks a major step towards self-reliance in defence technology and building a resilient domestic ecosystem.”
Cooper Chang, CEO of Avix Technology, added: “Our partnership with Optiemus is more than just a supply agreement – it’s a shared vision to create advanced drone camera systems customised for India’s defence requirements. We are proud to help build a sustainable innovation hub in India.”
In addition to its partnership with Avix, OUS is working with various Indian component and subsystem suppliers to strengthen the local defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The launch underscores Optiemus’s expanding role in India’s defence modernisation drive, offering high-performance, locally manufactured unmanned systems designed to meet the country’s evolving security challenges.
