Delhi Unveils 3 Autonomous Test Centers; India Orders Heron MK-II UAVs for Surveillance

TL;DR

• Delhi launches three automated vehicle testing centers to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment.
• Nexperia faces ownership dispute amid supply concerns affecting autonomous vehicle chip production.
• India procures Heron MK-II UAVs to bolster autonomous surveillance capabilities.

Delhi’s Automated Vehicle Testing Centres Poised to Accelerate Autonomous‑Mobility Rollout

Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade

• Three fully automated centres – Burari, Nand Nagri, Tehkhand – will serve the National Capital Region.
• Target operational dates: two centres by March 2025, all three by mid‑2025.
• Digital certification rigs will replace human oversight for emission, safety, and performance checks.

Physical Footprint & Automation Features

• Nand Nagri: Pre‑engineered 40 m × 26 m building; four automated lanes (2 heavy‑motor, 1 light‑motor, 1 two‑wheel).
• Tehkhand: Upgrade of existing inspection centre; automation to follow full electrification.
• Burari: Existing facility undergoing conversion to zero‑human operation.

Throughput Capacity

• Nand Nagri – 72 000 certifications per year (incl. 20 000 two‑wheelers).
• Tehkhand – projected 73 000 certifications per year.
• Combined annual capacity of ~145 000 vehicles, a rise of more than 150 % over the current automated baseline.
• Projected processing time reduction: from 12 days to ≤ 4 days per vehicle.

Financial Commitment

• Tehkhand electrification tender: Rs 21.28 lakh for power, fire safety, and control‑system wiring.
• Burari conversion: Rs 11.27 crore covering fire safety and electrical installations.
• Costs are incorporated into Delhi’s FY 2025‑26 smart‑mobility budget.

Milestones & Timeline

• Nov 2024 – Foundation stone laid for Tehkhand (completed).
• Early 2025 – Electrification work at Tehkhand (tender awarded, pending start).
• Feb 2025 – Near‑completion of Nand Nagri construction.
• Mar 2025 – Operational launch of Burari and Nand Nagri.
• Jun 2025 – Full operational status of all three centres.

Safety and Scalability Implications

• Digital, repeatable fitness tests aim to close safety gaps highlighted by recent robotaxi incidents elsewhere.
• Automated certification is expected to lower AV‑related incident rates by roughly 20 % compared with manual inspection baselines (2023 data).
• Modular lane design supports future expansion to 200 000 certifications annually without major structural changes.

Policy Outlook

The rollout aligns with national autonomous‑mobility objectives, offering a replicable model for other Indian metros. Ongoing monitoring of throughput metrics and safety outcomes will be essential to verify projected efficiencies and to inform further policy refinements.

India’s Heron MK‑II UAV Purchase Boosts Persistent ISR and Indigenous Aerospace

Technical Edge

• Maximum take‑off weight: 1,430 kg
• Endurance: up to 45 hours of continuous flight
• Payload capacity: 490 kg for EO/IR, SAR and SIGINT suites
• Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (≈10.7 km)
• Maximum speed: 150 kt (≈278 km/h)
• Roles: ISR, maritime surveillance, electronic intelligence, limited strike support

Tri‑Service Strategy

Deploying a single UAV family across the Army, Navy and Air Force simplifies logistics and training while delivering a unified intelligence picture. Early units will support Operation Sindoor, testing joint ISR workflows from Ladakh to the Andaman‑Nicobar archipelago. The platform’s high‑EMI certification ensures reliable operation in contested electromagnetic environments, a requirement for missions near rival air defenses.

Make‑in‑India Trajectory

The contract mandates a phased technology‑transfer program. Phase 1 (2025‑26) imports four fully equipped airframes. Phase 2 (2027‑29) establishes a joint IAI‑HAL assembly line in Bengaluru, targeting six to eight units annually. Phase 3 (2030 onward) aims for a domestically produced “Heron‑TP” with at least 60 % local content, positioning India as a potential exporter to friendly Indo‑Pacific partners. Partnerships with HAL and Elcom embed critical subsystems—avionics, communication suites and ground control stations—within the national defence industrial base.

Regional Security Impact

Persistent 45‑hour surveillance fills a capability gap across the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing anti‑piracy patrols, fisheries monitoring and early warning against surface threats. The sizable payload enables all‑weather SAR imaging and real‑time SIGINT collection, feeding combat‑information‑centers with near‑instantaneous data. By extending ISR reach into contested maritime approaches, the Heron MK‑II strengthens India’s deterrence posture against expanding UAV and missile capabilities of Pakistan and China.

Future Outlook

By mid‑2026 the Heron MK‑II will be operational on high‑altitude border corridors and key maritime chokepoints. Software upgrades under trial promise autonomous flight‑plan generation, loiter‑and‑track functions and onboard target identification, reducing operator workload. A steady production ramp‑up to 6‑8 units per year by 2029 will meet both domestic demand and export ambitions, reinforcing India’s role as a regional ISR hub through the remainder of the decade.