DRDO hands the AI-enabled satellite imaging system Prajna to the Ministry of Home Affairs and completes four successful P8I in-flight release trials of the Air Droppable Container ADC-150 with the Indian Navy.
DRDO ने AI-सक्षम उपग्रह इमेजिंग प्रणाली 'प्रज्ञा' गृह मंत्रालय को सौंपी तथा भारतीय नौसेना के साथ 'एयर ड्रॉपेबल कंटेनर' ADC-150 के P8I विमान से चार सफल इन-फ्लाइट रिलीज़ परीक्षण पूरे किए।
Why in News
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has delivered two indigenous defence technologies in quick succession. DRDO Chairman and Defence R&D Secretary Samir V. Kamat handed over the AI-enabled satellite imaging system Prajna — developed by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) — to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan in New Delhi for use by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Separately, between 21 February and 1 March 2026, DRDO and the Indian Navy completed four successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container ADC-150 from the P8I maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Goa. ADC-150 is designed to deliver a 150 kg payload and is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon.
At a Glance
- System 1 — Prajna
- AI-enabled satellite imaging system for internal security operations
- Prajna developer
- DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
- Prajna handover
- Samir V. Kamat (DRDO Chairman / DRDO Secretary) → Govind Mohan (Union Home Secretary), New Delhi
- Prajna use case
- Real-time decision-making for security agencies; counter-terrorism; monitoring sensitive regions
- System 2 — ADC-150
- Indigenous Air Droppable Container; payload 150 kg; delivered from P8I aircraft
- ADC-150 trial window
- 21 February to 1 March 2026; four successful in-flight releases off the coast of Goa under extreme conditions
- ADC-150 use case
- Rapid delivery of critical stores, medical supplies, equipment to naval ships far from coast during emergencies
- ADC-150 lead lab
- Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
- Supporting DRDO labs
- Parachute — ADRDE Agra; flight certification — CEMILAC Bengaluru; instrumentation — DRDL Hyderabad
- Strategic context
- Part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat — reducing dependence on foreign defence and security systems
DRDO has delivered two indigenous defence technologies in quick succession. First, Prajna — an AI-enabled satellite imaging system developed by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) — has been handed over by DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan for use by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Prajna uses artificial intelligence to monitor sensitive regions, support internal security operations, and strengthen counter-terrorism efforts. Second, DRDO and the Indian Navy completed four successful in-flight release trials of the indigenous Air Droppable Container (ADC-150) from the P8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Goa between 21 February and 1 March 2026, under extreme release conditions. ADC-150 carries a 150 kg payload and is designed to quickly deliver critical stores, medical supplies, and equipment to naval ships operating far from the coast during emergencies. Development involved the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) Visakhapatnam as the main lab, Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) Agra for the parachute system, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) Bengaluru for flight certification, and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad for instrumentation. The system is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy soon.
DRDO ने दो स्वदेशी रक्षा तकनीकें शीघ्रता से सौंपी हैं। पहली — प्रज्ञा, DRDO के कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता एवं रोबोटिक्स केंद्र (CAIR) द्वारा विकसित AI-सक्षम उपग्रह इमेजिंग प्रणाली — DRDO अध्यक्ष समीर वी. कामत द्वारा केंद्रीय गृह सचिव गोविंद मोहन को सौंपी गई, ताकि गृह मंत्रालय की आंतरिक सुरक्षा, आतंकवाद-विरोधी प्रयासों एवं संवेदनशील क्षेत्रों की निगरानी में उपयोग हो। दूसरी — DRDO एवं भारतीय नौसेना ने स्वदेशी एयर ड्रॉपेबल कंटेनर (ADC-150) के चार सफल इन-फ्लाइट परीक्षण P8I विमान से गोवा तट पर 21 फरवरी से 1 मार्च 2026 के बीच पूरे किए। ADC-150 150 किलोग्राम का पेलोड ले जा सकता है तथा समुद्र में दूर तैनात नौसेना जहाज़ों को आपातकालीन आपूर्ति — चिकित्सा सामग्री, उपकरण — तेज़ी से पहुँचाने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है। विकास में NSTL विशाखापत्तनम (प्रमुख), ADRDE आगरा (पैराशूट), CEMILAC बेंगलुरु (उड़ान प्रमाणन), DRDL हैदराबाद (इंस्ट्रूमेंटेशन) शामिल थे।
- NSTL VisakhapatnamNSTL विशाखापत्तनमMain lab — naval tech· प्रमुख प्रयोगशाला
- ADRDE AgraADRDE आगराParachute system· पैराशूट प्रणाली
- CEMILAC BengaluruCEMILAC बेंगलुरुFlight certification· उड़ान प्रमाणन
- DRDL HyderabadDRDL हैदराबादInstrumentation· इंस्ट्रूमेंटेशन
Static GK
- •DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation; premier defence R&D agency under Ministry of Defence; headquartered in New Delhi; Chairman: Samir V. Kamat
- •CAIR (Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics): DRDO laboratory based in Bengaluru; focuses on AI and robotics applications for defence
- •NSTL (Naval Science and Technological Laboratory): DRDO lab in Visakhapatnam; specialises in underwater weapons and naval technology
- •ADRDE (Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment): DRDO lab in Agra; focuses on parachute systems and aerial delivery
- •CEMILAC (Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification): DRDO lab in Bengaluru; provides airworthiness certification for military aerospace systems
- •DRDL (Defence Research and Development Laboratory): DRDO lab in Hyderabad; works on missiles and strategic systems; supporting instrumentation for various projects
- •P8I aircraft: Long-range maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft operated by the Indian Navy; Boeing-built variant of P-8 Poseidon
- •Aatmanirbhar Bharat — Defence: Indigenisation drive for defence production; includes positive indigenisation lists, iDEX, and DRDO transfers of technology
Timeline
- 21 Feb - 1 Mar 2026Four successful in-flight release trials of ADC-150 from P8I aircraft off Goa coast.
- 2026DRDO hands over Prajna AI satellite imaging system to Ministry of Home Affairs; ADC-150 readied for Indian Navy induction.
- →Prajna = AI satellite imaging. CAIR ne banaya (Centre for AI and Robotics). MHA ko diya for internal security.
- →Samir V. Kamat = DRDO Chairman + DRDO Secretary. Double role.
- →Govind Mohan = Union Home Secretary. Prajna handover in New Delhi.
- →ADC-150 = Air Droppable Container, 150 kg payload. P8I se drop hota hai (maritime patrol aircraft).
- →Trials = 21 Feb - 1 Mar 2026. 4 successful in-flight releases off Goa coast. 'Extreme conditions' testing.
- →Char DRDO labs: NSTL Vizag (main, naval tech) + ADRDE Agra (parachute) + CEMILAC Bengaluru (cert) + DRDL Hyderabad (instrumentation).
- →Aatmanirbhar Bharat = defence indigenisation drive. Prajna + ADC-150 isi drive ka hissa.
Exam Angles
DRDO has handed AI-enabled satellite imaging system Prajna (developed by CAIR) to the Ministry of Home Affairs and completed four successful ADC-150 in-flight release trials from P8I aircraft off Goa coast between 21 February and 1 March 2026; ADC-150 delivers 150 kg payload to naval ships in emergencies.
Q1. The AI-enabled satellite imaging system 'Prajna' — handed over by DRDO to the Ministry of Home Affairs — was developed by which DRDO laboratory?
- A.Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL)
- B.Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
- C.Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL)
- D.Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC)
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
Prajna was developed by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), based in Bengaluru.
Q2. The Air Droppable Container ADC-150 was tested from which Indian Navy aircraft?
- A.IL-38
- B.P8I
- C.MiG-29K
- D.Tejas
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. P8I
ADC-150 was tested from the P8I — the Indian Navy's long-range maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft (Boeing P-8 Poseidon variant).
Q3. The payload capacity of the Air Droppable Container ADC-150 is:
- A.50 kg
- B.100 kg
- C.150 kg
- D.250 kg
tap to reveal answer
Answer: C. 150 kg
ADC-150 is designed to deliver a payload of 150 kg — hence the system's name.
Q4. The DRDO Chairman (as of 2026), who handed over Prajna to the Home Secretary, is:
- A.G. Satheesh Reddy
- B.Samir V. Kamat
- C.V.K. Saraswat
- D.Ajit Doval
tap to reveal answer
Answer: B. Samir V. Kamat
Samir V. Kamat is the DRDO Chairman and Defence R&D Secretary. He handed over Prajna to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan.
Q5. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) — the main developer of ADC-150 — is located in:
- A.Kochi
- B.Mumbai
- C.Visakhapatnam
- D.Chennai
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Answer: C. Visakhapatnam
NSTL is located in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and specialises in underwater weapons and naval technology.
Q1. The four-lab DRDO collaboration on ADC-150 development had which laboratory as the main lead?
- A.ADRDE Agra
- B.CEMILAC Bengaluru
- C.NSTL Visakhapatnam
- D.DRDL Hyderabad
tap to reveal answer
Answer: C. NSTL Visakhapatnam
The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, was the main laboratory for ADC-150 development. The others contributed specialised inputs (parachute, certification, instrumentation).
The DRDO's simultaneous delivery of Prajna (AI-enabled satellite imaging to MHA) and ADC-150 (air-droppable naval logistics container) illustrates the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence indigenisation drive's cross-domain scope — from internal security AI to naval-logistics hardware. Prajna, developed by CAIR (Bengaluru), brings artificial intelligence into real-time internal security operations, counter-terrorism, and sensitive-region monitoring. ADC-150 — tested in four successful in-flight releases from P8I aircraft off Goa between 21 February and 1 March 2026 under extreme conditions — is a 150 kg payload container enabling rapid delivery of medical supplies, critical stores, and equipment to naval ships far from coast. Development involved four DRDO labs with distinct specialisations (NSTL Visakhapatnam as main, ADRDE Agra for parachute, CEMILAC Bengaluru for flight certification, DRDL Hyderabad for instrumentation), illustrating the collaborative architecture of modern DRDO project execution.
- AI in internal securityPrajna's handover to MHA brings AI-enabled satellite imaging into real-time counter-terrorism decision-making — operationalising an area where India has been technology-taker until recently.
- Naval logisticsADC-150 addresses a real operational gap — rapid emergency supply to naval ships far from coast; P8I platform utilisation extends beyond maritime patrol to logistics.
- Indigenisation scopeCross-domain delivery (AI + hardware, internal security + naval) in the same window illustrates Aatmanirbhar Bharat's broad bandwidth.
- DRDO architectureFour-lab collaboration on ADC-150 shows the coordinating model — main lab + specialised contributing labs — increasingly standard for DRDO projects.
- Technology-to-user cycleBoth systems move from development to user handover/operational trials in the same cycle, contrast to DRDO's historical timelines.
- Sustained indigenisation requires downstream production capacity beyond prototype handover.
- AI governance in defence/internal-security use cases raises oversight and accountability questions.
- Operational certification for wider Navy platforms beyond P8I needs incremental trial work.
- Technology transfer to production partners requires maturity of Defence Industrial Corridors.
- Clear technology-transfer pipelines from DRDO to private-sector and DPSU production partners.
- AI-in-defence governance framework with operational safeguards and audit mechanisms.
- Extension of ADC-150 operational certification to other Navy platforms (IL-38, Dornier, etc.).
- Publicly disclosed targets for indigenisation ratios in similar future programmes.
Mains Q · 150wDRDO's simultaneous delivery of Prajna (AI-enabled satellite imaging) to MHA and ADC-150 (air-droppable container) to the Indian Navy illustrates the scope of India's defence indigenisation. Examine the achievements and the next steps required. (150 words)
Intro: DRDO's simultaneous delivery of Prajna (AI-enabled satellite imaging to MHA) and ADC-150 (air-droppable naval logistics container) in early 2026 demonstrates the cross-domain scope of Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence indigenisation.
- Prajna (CAIR Bengaluru): AI-enabled real-time internal security support, counter-terrorism, sensitive-region monitoring.
- ADC-150: 150 kg payload from P8I aircraft; four successful in-flight releases off Goa (21 Feb-1 Mar 2026); main lab NSTL Visakhapatnam + ADRDE Agra (parachute) + CEMILAC Bengaluru (certification) + DRDL Hyderabad (instrumentation).
- Next steps: technology-transfer pipelines to DPSU/private production partners; AI-in-defence governance framework; extension of ADC-150 certification to other platforms; publicly disclosed indigenisation ratio targets.
Conclusion: Delivery is the start, not the end; the next cycle must convert prototype handovers into scaled production and audited governance.
Common Confusions
- Trap · Prajna developer lab
Correct: CAIR (Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics), Bengaluru — not DRDL, NSTL, or CEMILAC.
- Trap · ADC-150 payload capacity
Correct: 150 kg — the name encodes the payload figure. Not 50 kg, 100 kg, or 250 kg.
- Trap · P8I platform identity
Correct: P8I is the Indian Navy's variant of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft — not an indigenous fighter.
- Trap · Main lab for ADC-150
Correct: NSTL Visakhapatnam (naval tech main lab). ADRDE Agra, CEMILAC Bengaluru, DRDL Hyderabad contributed specialised inputs — parachute, certification, instrumentation respectively.
Flashcard
Q · Twin DRDO delivery 2026 — Prajna's developer lab and ADC-150's payload + platform?tap to reveal
Suggested Reading
- DRDO press release on Prajna and ADC-150search: drdo.gov.in press release Prajna ADC-150 2026
Interlinkages
Prerequisites · concepts to brush up first
- Basic DRDO organisational structure (Chairman + labs)
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence indigenisation drive
- What maritime patrol aircraft do (surveillance + ASW)