The State Police Headquarters and Disaster Management Department have published an open competitive tender on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under Bid Number GEM/2026/B/8041370 on 16 September 2026 for the supply, testing, and comprehensive operator training of advanced, DGCA Type-Certified "Surveillance Drones equipped with Dual Optical Daylight Zoom and Radiometric Thermal Imaging Payloads."

The State Police Headquarters and Disaster Management Department have published an open competitive tender on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under Bid Number GEM/2026/B/8041370 on 16 September 2026 for the supply, testing, and comprehensive operator training of advanced, DGCA Type-Certified "Surveillance Drones equipped with Dual Optical Daylight Zoom and Radiometric Thermal Imaging Payloads."

With bid submissions closing on 07 October 2026 at 04:00 PM IST, this procurement represents a high-priority, commercially rewarding contracting opportunity for indigenous drone manufacturing MSMEs, authorized UAV distributors, and defense technology startups. Modern law enforcement, border monitoring, night patrolling, and disaster search-and-rescue operations require reliable micro/small unmanned aerial systems capable of rapid deployment, stable wind resistance, long flight endurance, encrypted video transmission, and clear thermal signature detection of hidden targets in total darkness. Sized at an estimated value of INR 25 Lakh, the project is structured perfectly for domestic drone MSMEs. In accordance with Central Public Procurement Policy guidelines, Make-in-India provisions, and GeM General Terms and Conditions (GTC), registered Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) holding valid Udyam Registration enjoy a 100% statutory exemption from depositing the INR 50,000 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).

The procuring establishment manages tactical law enforcement, crowd control, emergency search-and-rescue, anti-smuggling patrols, and forest wildlife protection. Aerial reconnaissance is vital during night-time cordon-and-search operations, tracking fleeing suspects, and assessing flood or wildfire perimeters.

The technical evaluation committee comprises senior police superintendents, tactical communications specialists, and certified UAV observers who require strict regulatory adherence (DGCA Type Certificate), robust carbon-fiber airframe construction, encrypted datalinks (AES-256), fail-safe return-to-home (RTH) reliability, and demonstrated night-time thermal detection capabilities during live field trials.

The turnkey supplier will deliver, configure, test, and conduct on-site pilot training for complete tactical UAV packages comprising the following five elements:

A. Airframe & Propulsion System

DGCA Type-Certified Quadcopter or Hexacopter UAV constructed from lightweight carbon-fiber composite and aerospace-grade aluminum.

Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW): Under 4.0 kg (Micro/Small Category), with foldable arms and quick-release propellers for rapid deployment from a backpack or tactical carry case within 3 minutes.

Flight Performance: Minimum continuous flight endurance of 40 minutes with full dual payload attached; wind resistance up to 12 m/s (approx. 43 km/h); maximum operational ceiling of at least 4,000 meters above mean sea level (AMSL).

B. Dual Daylight Optical & Radiometric Thermal Payloads

Integrated 3-axis brushless motorized stabilization gimbal providing 360° pan and pitch stabilization.

Daylight Optical Sensor: Minimum 4K Ultra-HD video recording, 20MP still photography, and minimum 10x optical zoom (combined 30x hybrid zoom) for reading vehicle license plates from a safe standoff altitude.

Radiometric Thermal Sensor: Uncooled VOx microbolometer, 640x512 resolution, 12µm pixel pitch, 30 Hz frame rate, temperature measurement range -20°C to 150°C (with sensitivity NETD <50 mK), and multiple false-color palettes (White Hot, Black Hot, Ironbow) for pinpoint human and vehicle heat signature tracking.

C. Ground Control Station (GCS) & Datalink

Ruggedized all-in-one handheld GCS with integrated ultra-bright touchscreen display (minimum 7.0-inch, >1,000 nits daylight readable).

Encrypted bi-directional datalink operating across dual frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz) wi