Indian Naval Academy Develops Twin-Drone System for Long-Range Sea Rescue Operations

Key facts

• The Indian Naval Academy unveiled a twin-drone system on October 27, 2026, to enhance long-range maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations.
• The system uses two autonomous UAVs: a quadcopter with 2K optical and thermal cameras scans for persons in the water, while an AI model named YOLO identifies potential persons from the live feed.
• Once a person is detected, a hexacopter carrying a lifebuoy is dispatched via GPS; the lifebuoy is released only on an operator's command, and the hexacopter then autonomously returns to base.
• Both drones were custom-built by the academy team, with Midshipman Sudhanshu Tanwar one of the system's developers.
• The quadcopter has a 45-minute flight time, 0.5 kg payload capacity, and 50 km/h top speed, while the hexacopter offers 25-minute flight duration, 2.5 kg payload capacity, and 40 km/h top speed; both operate within a 10 km radius.