An Indian defence company has marked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an Israeli firm to introduce state-of-the-art drone camera technology to India, officials announced on Thursday. According to an official statement, Paras Defence and Space Technologies signed an agreement with Israel’s MicroCon Vision, a subsidiary of Controp and the Rafael Group.

Paras Defence announced that the collaboration would establish it as the exclusive supplier of advanced drone camera technology in India at a "much lower cost."

According to the statement, the Indian company will integrate indigenous components into these drone cameras and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads. This move will enhance the country’s self-reliance while reducing costs. The company plans to offer two models, typically imported at "around Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh per unit." Paras Defence "anticipates 50-60 per cent price reduction for each model," making cutting-edge surveillance technology more affordable for Indian defence forces and commercial use.

The statement states, "MicroCon will serve as Paras Defence's exclusive supplier for drone cameras, which include ISR payloads and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seekers, while Paras Defence becomes MicroCon's exclusive partner for ISR operations in India." "This aligns with MicroCon's strategy to expand its footprint in the country, which is witnessing accelerated growth in its drone market," according to the statement.

According to the statement, Munjal Sharad Shah, managing director at Paras Defence, described the collaboration as "a major leap forward in India's defence capabilities." Shah further stated, "We are committed to supporting India's strategic goals and are proud to partner with MicroCon in this groundbreaking endeavour."

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to strengthen both companies' foothold in India's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) payload market. It highlights integrating advanced technologies, including AI-driven analytics, high-resolution imaging, and thermal vision, to enhance surveillance capabilities. These advancements are expected to improve operational efficiency in defence and civilian applications.

According to the statement, MicroCon CEO Chen Almog said, “MicroCon is committed to delivering cutting-edge ISR payloads that drive the future of defence and surveillance systems.”