SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s ambitious Loyal Wingman program, which aims to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to support manned fighter jets, is taking a significant leap forward with the development of a new generation of air-to-air missiles.
The program’s UCAVs, also known as Loyal Wingmen, will be equipped with the Next-Generation Close Combat Missile (NGCCM), a local variant of the ASRAAM Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM). This ensures compatibility with existing Indian Air Force (IAF) weaponry.
However, a new challenge has emerged and the need for cost-effective air-to-air missiles against emerging threats like Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) and High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) including loitering munitions has forced IAF to seek low costs options to tackle them then use rather expensive AAMs.
To address these diverse threats, DRDO is exploring two new air-to-air missile development paths. One potential solution lies in converting the Infrared (IR) homing MANPAD (Man-Portable Air-Defense System) currently under development for the Indian Army for use with the Loyal Wingman and other UCAVs. This offers an interim solution while leveraging existing technology.
The other, more long-term solution, involves developing a new generation of mini air-to-air missiles. These missiles will feature smaller explosive warheads and a novel dual seeker technology to further drive down costs. This approach also prioritizes faster manufacturing and lower costs, making these missiles ideal for countering low-cost threats and reducing the overall cost per interception.
While the NGCCM, Astra MkI and MkII missiles offer advanced capabilities, their rapid production is not feasible and not every aerial threat requires manned fighter jet interception and usage of Astra MkI that costs $1 million per unit while aerial threat might not be worth a few thousand of dollars. Developing these mini missiles provides a crucial cost-effective option for tackling the growing threat of UAVs in the airspace. India’s Loyal Wingman program, with its focus on locally developed missile technology, is poised to equip the IAF with a powerful and cost-efficient force multiplier.
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