SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In the shadow of the ongoing border tensions with China, the Indian Army is sending a clear and urgent message to both public and private sectors: innovate, collaborate, or source – but deliver. The Army’s current fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), predominantly of Israeli origin, is ageing and in dire need of replacement and enhancement to keep pace with modern warfighting requirements.
The Indian Army currently operates around 50 drones, including the Heron Mark-I, Mark-II, and the Searcher-II, all sourced from Israel. These drones have been pivotal in maintaining surveillance and reconnaissance along the volatile Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. However, the relentless operational demands have taken their toll on these machines. In a recent move to bolster its capabilities, the Army has inducted four new satellite communication-enabled Heron Mark-II drones, which are expected to significantly enhance the surveillance capacity at the border.
With the Searcher-II UAVs nearing obsolescence, the Indian Army has laid down stringent specifications for new MALE UAVs: an operational altitude of at least 30,000 feet with an endurance capability of over 24 hours. These requirements are not just for maintaining but for elevating the Army’s strategic positioning in high-altitude and long-duration missions, critical in the Himalayan terrain.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), has been tasked with bringing forth solutions like the Archer NG and Tapas BH-201. However, both projects have faced significant hurdles. The Tapas BH-201, despite years of development, has struggled to meet the Army’s altitude and endurance specifications, leading to its temporary shelving as a mission-mode project. Meanwhile, Archer NG, an armed drone variant, holds promise but has not yet reached the deployment stage.
Recognizing the limitations in public sector capabilities and the urgency of the situation, the Army has extended its appeal to the private sector. Companies are urged to either develop indigenous MALE UAVs or collaborate with established foreign players to meet the immediate demands. This push aligns with India’s broader “Make in India” initiative, aiming to reduce dependency on foreign military hardware and foster self-reliance in defense technology.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.