**Executive Summary**
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition (MBC-3), focused on "Collaborative Drone-Based Surveillance Radars." Registration for the competition commences on April 27, 2026, aiming to foster indigenous innovation in advanced drone and radar technologies. Meritorious participants will receive development funding, and the top three winners will be honored with awards.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Competition Objectives and Scope**
* **Theme:** The core theme is "Collaborative Drone-Based Surveillance Radars."
* **Goal:** To develop a proof of concept for a collaborative swarm of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
* **Technical Requirements:** The systems must function as airborne radar capable of detecting, tracking, and reporting aerial targets in contested environments.
* **Data Integration:** Systems must provide accurate target locations to a centralized monitoring station.
**Historical Context and Impact**
* **Economic Impact:** Previous editions of the competition have cultivated a robust ecosystem, generating orders worth approximately Rs. 2,000 Crores for the unmanned systems industry.
* **Past Themes:** Earlier editions focused on swarm drones for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and foreign object debris detection on aircraft operating surfaces.
* **Strategic Bridge:** The MBC initiative serves as a platform to bridge the gap between Indian industry, academia, and the IAF to develop critical defense technologies.
**Commemoration**
* **Legacy:** The competition honors Air Commodore Mehar Singh DSO MVC, a legendary air veteran known for leading the first contingent of the Indian Army to Srinagar in 1947 and being the first to land at Leh.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Industries, Start-ups, and Research Establishments**
**Impact**
Participants gain access to a platform for indigenous development of niche aviation technologies. Successful participants are eligible for development funding from the IAF, while the top three winners receive formal awards. The initiative provides an opportunity to be integrated into the defense supply chain, as evidenced by the high value of orders generated in previous editions.
**Action Required**
Interested entities must register for MBC-3 via the official website (https://indianairforce.nic.in/mehar_baba) starting April 27, 2026. They are also advised to obtain and review the 'Vision Document' available on the website for full competition details.
**Academic Institutions**
**Impact**
Academia is invited to collaborate on solving real-world aviation challenges and contributing to the next wave of aerospace innovation. It provides a pathway for academic research to transition into practical defense applications.
**Action Required**
Academic groups should review the technical requirements and register through the official portal starting April 27, 2026, to participate in the proof-of-concept development.
Key Entities Referenced
Mehar Baba Competition-3 (MBC-3): An Indian Air Force initiative aimed at developing a proof of concept for collaborative swarm of Unmanned Aerial Systems for drone-based surveillance radars.
Indian Air Force (IAF): The primary organizing body that launched the competition, provides development funding, and evaluates indigenous aerospace innovations.
Vision Document: The official policy document containing full information and technical requirements for participants of the Mehar Baba Competition-3.
Ministry of Defence: The central government ministry overseeing the Indian Air Force and the broader defense innovation initiatives.
Ministry of Defence
IAF COMMENCES REGISTRATION FOR MEHAR
BABA COMPETITION-3
Posted On: 24 APR 2026 1:53PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Air Force has launched the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition-3 (https://in
dianairforce.nic.in/mehar_baba). The theme of MBC-3 is “Collaborative Drone-Based
Surveillance Radars.” The competition aims to encourage innovation in advanced drone and
radar technologies. Meritorious participants will receive development funding from the Indian Air
Force, and the top three winners will be honored with awards. The registration for MBC-3 is
commencing on 27 Apr 26.
The competition was earlier announced by Hon'ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth
during Aero India 2025. The aim of MBC-3 is to develop a proof of concept for collaborative
swarm of Unmanned Aerial Systems working as an airborne radar capable of detecting,
tracking and reporting aerial targets in a contested environment and provide their
accurate location at a centralised monitoring station. IAF invites Indian industries, start-ups,
academic institutions and research establishments to participate in the competition and be a part
of the next wave of aerospace innovation. Interested participants may obtain full information
related to the competition from the 'Vision Document' available on the official website https://indi
anairforce.nic.in/mehar_baba.This pioneering model of the competition has successfully cultivated a robust ecosystem
and has generated orders worth approximately Rs. 2000 Crores for the unmanned
systems industry. The first two editions of MBC were conducted with the themes 'Swarm
Drones for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations' and 'Swarm Drone Based
Foreign Object Debris Detection on Aircraft Operating Surfaces' respectively. IAF received a very
encouraging response from industry, start-ups and academia for these competitions. MBC has
proven to be a frontrunner in bridging the gap between Indian industry, academia and users by
providing them a common platform to work on critical defence related technologies.
Mehar Baba Competition is an IAF initiative to encourage indigenous development of niche
aviation technology. Since it's launch in 2018, MBC has experienced overwhelming participation
from the industry and academia. The competition has inspired academia, start-ups and industry
to develop novel indigenous solutions for tackling real-world aviation challenges.
MBC is conducted in the honour of the legendary air veteran Air Commodore Mehar Singh DSO
MVC affectionately known as Mehar Baba. He was born in the district of Lyallapur in 1915 and
joined the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell in 1934. Mehar Baba earned the respect of his
fellow airmen with his flying skills. At the age of 29, he was awarded the Distinguished Service
Order (DSO) for effective leadership and personal bravery. Out of his many achievements, the
mission led by him carrying the first contingent of the Indian Army in a Dakota aircraft to Srinagar
in 1947 is the most memorable. He also has the distinction of being the first to land at Leh, the
highest airstrip in the world then. Mehar Baba was the first IAF recipient to be awarded with
Maha Vir Chakra.***
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