SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems has proposed a joint development initiative with India to create a new Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) or High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Indian Armed Forces. This offer comes at a critical time, as India’s indigenous UAV programs face delays and challenges.
The proposal follows an agreement between General Atomics and India, under which the U.S. firm will serve as a consultant for the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in its HALE UAV program.
India’s efforts to develop homegrown UAV systems, particularly the MALE platform Archer-NG and the earlier Tapas UAV, have faced significant obstacles. The Tapas program, intended to provide MALE UAVs to the Indian Armed Forces, has been delayed due to the system’s failure to meet critical performance requirements. The prolonged development timeline of the Tapas has further strained the armed forces’ patience, and the lack of an immediate viable alternative has stalled progress on the Archer-NG.
Elbit Systems, a leading Israeli defence company with extensive experience in UAV development, has already established a presence in India through its partnership with Adani Defence to supply localized versions of the Hermes-900 UAV. These UAVs are currently in use by the Indian Army and Navy for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The new proposal from Elbit seeks to go beyond mere licensing and assembly of existing platforms. Instead, the firm has offered to collaborate with India on the joint development of an entirely new MALE/HALE UAV that incorporates Indian technologies. This collaboration would enable India to leverage Elbit’s expertise in UAV design and cutting-edge technology while promoting indigenous content in the final product. The co-development would encompass design, production, and technology-sharing, ensuring that the new UAV meets the specific needs of the Indian Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, the involvement of U.S.-based General Atomics as a consultant for ADE’s proposed HALE UAV program marks another significant development in India’s quest for advanced UAV capabilities. This partnership comes on the heels of a deal between India and the United States for 31 MQ-9B Predator UAVs, a highly capable platform renowned for its endurance and precision strike capabilities.
General Atomics’ role as a consultant is expected to provide valuable insights and technical expertise that will help ADE fast-track the development of its indigenous HALE UAV. This partnership aligns with India’s long-term vision of becoming self-reliant in defence technologies while also benefiting from the expertise of international defence leaders.
The Indian Armed Forces have been vocal about the need for advanced MALE and HALE UAVs to strengthen surveillance capabilities, especially given the heightened security environment along India’s borders with Pakistan and China. UAVs play a critical role in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and having a fleet of capable MALE/HALE platforms will enhance the military’s ability to monitor vast and remote areas.
The deal for the Hermes-900 UAVs with Elbit, though successful, has only partially met the Armed Forces’ requirements, as India seeks even more advanced platforms with greater endurance, payload capacity, and indigenous content. The new co-development offer from Elbit represents an opportunity to create a UAV tailored specifically to Indian needs, combining indigenous systems and subsystems with proven Israeli expertise.
The proposal from Elbit also offers a solution to the delays faced by ADE’s Archer-NG program. With the Indian Armed Forces growing increasingly impatient for an operational MALE platform, the collaboration with Elbit could expedite the development of a UAV that satisfies the stringent requirements set by the military.
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