IG Defence and Oman’s MSA Global Explore Joint Development of Drone and Counter-Drone Systems

India’s IG Defence and Oman-based MSA Global have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the joint development and local manufacturing of drone and counter-drone technologies for Oman and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The proposed partnership brings together India’s growing defence export ambitions and the Gulf’s increasing focus on strengthening its security capabilities. However, the agreement is still at an exploratory stage and does not confirm any purchase order, manufacturing facility or operational deployment.

Strengthening Defence Capabilities in the Gulf

The agreement comes amid growing security concerns across the Gulf region. Reuters reported in October that Iran and allied groups had carried out at least 135 drone and missile attacks targeting 84 infrastructure sites across Gulf Arab countries since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran in February.

Against this backdrop, MSA Global chairman Col M. S. Atwal (Retd.) highlighted the importance of building stronger regional defence capabilities and establishing more resilient manufacturing networks.

He said the changing security environment in the Gulf underlines the need for countries to strengthen their domestic defence capabilities and develop manufacturing ecosystems that can better withstand disruptions.

The MoU was exchanged during the India-Oman Defence Industry Cooperation Seminar held in Muscat in October. India and Oman already maintain defence ties, including joint military exercises involving the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Three Defence Systems Under Consideration

IG Defence, previously known as IG Drones, said the discussions with MSA Global would focus on three systems designed for different defence applications.

The first is KAL, which the company describes as a one-way attack unmanned aerial system with a stated range of up to 1,000 kilometres.

The second, BAJ, is an unmanned aerial interceptor designed for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) operations. Such systems are intended to help detect and counter potential threats posed by hostile drones.

The third is JWALA, a micro-missile system currently under development for counter-drone applications.

The companies are exploring opportunities to jointly develop these technologies and manufacture them locally. The proposed collaboration could help support defence requirements in Oman and other markets across the Gulf, although the specific manufacturing arrangements and project timelines have not yet been confirmed.

IG Defence CEO Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya said the partnership reflects the company’s ambition to take India-developed defence technologies to international markets through strategic industrial collaborations.

India’s Defence Exports Continue to Grow

The proposed partnership comes as India continues to expand its defence manufacturing and export capabilities.

India’s defence exports reached Rs 23,622 crore in the financial year 2024-25, registering a 12.04% increase over the previous year. The growth reflects the country’s broader push to strengthen domestic defence production and establish itself as a supplier to international markets.

Demand for counter-drone technologies and long-range unmanned systems is also drawing greater attention from defence planners.

On October 26, India approved military acquisitions worth Rs 2,12,000 crore in principle. The proposed acquisitions included counter-drone systems and long-range attack drones.

International defence companies are also pursuing opportunities in this segment. In May, France-based CS Group secured a NATO contract to supply two counter-drone systems for the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. In August, US company Powerus announced a separate contract involving counter-drone technology intended to protect energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

These developments point to growing interest in technologies designed to address the security risks posed by unmanned aerial systems.

A Potential Step Towards Regional Manufacturing

For IG Defence and MSA Global, the MoU creates a framework to examine how Indian defence technologies could be developed and manufactured in partnership with an Oman-based company.

If the discussions progress into concrete projects, the collaboration could support local manufacturing in Oman while opening potential opportunities across the wider GCC market.

For now, the agreement remains exploratory, with the next steps likely to depend on the outcome of technical discussions, manufacturing plans and the identification of specific requirements from potential customers.