Bhopal-based defence startup Aryavart Technologies Development Pvt. Ltd. (ATD), known for supplying the indigenous ARYA-5001 tactical UAV to the Indian Air Force in late 2025, has unveiled a new unmanned aerial system named TEJAS STOL, designed for tactical combat operations and extended-range missions.
The TEJAS STOL is a fixed-wing UAV featuring both vehicle-launch capability and Short Take-Off and Landing functionality, allowing it to operate from austere and confined deployment areas without the need for traditional runway infrastructure. The platform forms part of the company’s broader effort to develop indigenous unmanned systems tailored to India’s evolving defence and border security needs.
According to Aryavart Technologies, the UAV integrates advanced autonomous flight technologies with robust communication architecture capable of operating in electronically contested environments. The system has been developed to support reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision mission roles across diverse battlefield scenarios.
Among the platform’s defining features are its high-speed tactical flight characteristics and long-endurance operational profile, enabling prolonged surveillance and persistent mission coverage over target areas. The UAV can also be equipped with advanced Electro-Optical and Infrared payloads to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions during day and night operations.
The company further stated that the TEJAS STOL incorporates Electronic Warfare-resilient navigation and communication systems designed to withstand GPS spoofing, jamming attempts, and other forms of electronic interference. Such capabilities are becoming increasingly essential for unmanned systems operating in modern warfare environments dominated by electronic warfare threats.
Its vehicle-launch configuration additionally provides greater operational mobility and rapid deployment capability for frontline forces, enabling launch operations directly from tactical vehicles or remote forward bases. This flexibility is expected to be especially useful for border security operations, counter-insurgency missions, and surveillance tasks in difficult or remote terrain.
The introduction of the TEJAS STOL follows Aryavart Technologies’ earlier success with the ARYA-5001 tactical UAV program for the Indian Air Force. The company is now regarded as part of a growing group of Indian private-sector firms supporting the expansion of India’s indigenous drone and defence technology ecosystem under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
