IAF Launches Mehar Baba Competition‑3 (MBC‑3)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has opened registration for the third edition of the Mehar Baba Competition (MBC‑3). The theme this year is Collaborative Drone‑Based Surveillance Radars. Registration starts on 27 Apr 2026 and will run for a limited period.
Key Developments
- Launch of MBC‑3 with a focus on UAS swarm‑radar integration.
- Funding and awards for meritorious participants; top three winners receive cash prizes and development support from the IAF.
- Open invitation to Indian industries, start‑ups, academic institutions and research establishments.
- Full competition details available in the ‘Vision Document’ on the official IAF website.
Important Facts
The competition was first announced by the Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth, at Aero India 2025. MBC‑3 aims to develop a proof‑of‑concept for a collaborative swarm of swarm drones that function as an airborne radar, capable of detecting, tracking and reporting aerial targets in a contested environment, and relaying precise location data to a central monitoring station.
Since its inception in 2018, the competition has generated orders worth approximately Rs. 2000 Crores for the unmanned systems industry. The first two editions dealt with humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and foreign‑object debris detection on aircraft surfaces, receiving strong responses from industry, start‑ups and academia.
Exam Relevance
Understanding MBC‑3 helps aspirants grasp the nexus between defence policy, indigenous technology development, and the ‘Make in India’ drive. It illustrates how the Ministry of Defence leverages public‑private partnerships to accelerate innovation in critical sectors (GS3: Defence Production). The competition also showcases the role of strategic leadership (GS2: Polity) in shaping defence R&D priorities.
Way Forward
Stakeholders are encouraged to submit proposals before the deadline, aligning their projects with the competition’s objectives of autonomous swarm coordination and radar integration. Successful participants will not only receive financial backing but also gain access to IAF testing facilities, potentially leading to larger contracts and contributing to India’s self‑reliance in defence technology.