The Ministry of Defence, on 25 October, came out with the request for proposal (RFP) for such UAVs which will be processed as per the fast-track procurement procedure under the “emergency procurement”.

The RFP is part of the tendering process seeking commercial and technical bids from suppliers. Some 750 such drones are needed. “The current volatile situation along the northern borders warrants expeditious procurement of operational equipment,” the RFP document said. The Army is looking for UAVs that can provide round-the-clock surveillance with ability to scan the target area and provide a processed 3D scanned image of the target to execute special missions. The MoD wants to keep out any Chinese parts and has asked the vendor to provide NATO stock number (NSN) for each item provided by a foreign maker.

This equipment will be deployed for situational awareness and short-range surveillance that will enable the special forces to execute pin-point precision strikes during direct action tasks. The Army wants the UAV to be about 2 kg in weight and be operable by one person. The UAV needs to have an endurance of 30 minutes and be able to operate indoors and in GPS-denied areas.

The post Army to procure 750 hi-tech drones for precision strikes along LoC, LAC appeared first on IMR.

The last date for submission of bids for the remotely piloted aircraft programme is November 16.

“The system will be able to provide high resolution imagery to enable target detection, recognition, identification and accurate location of adversary’s location as well as build up of troops,” said an official.

According to the request for proposal or initial tender, the select supplier will have to supply the platforms within 12 months of signing the contract.

The mini remotely piloted aircraft systems are being procured under the ‘buy’ (Indian) category.

The Army’s procurement of 1,000 surveillance copters through fast track procedure under emergency procurement process is also aimed at boosting surveillance along the frontier with China.

Officials said the current dynamic volatile situation along the Northern borders warrants seamless surveillance.

“For surveillance needs of the Indian Army, expeditious procurement of surveillance copters for meeting urgent operational requirements is an operational imperative, where undue/unforeseen delay is seen to be adversely impacting the capacity and preparedness of the Indian Army,” according to a brief on the programme.

It said the surveillance copter will provide aerial surveillance capability and sustained point surveillance to the Indian Army.

Surveillance Copter is an ideal multi sensor system to carry out day and night, real time reconnaissance and surveillance.

“The system will provide high resolution imagery to enable target detection, recognition, identification and accurate location of adversaries’ build up,” said an official.

The last date for submission of bids for the programme is November 17.

The Army has been ramping up its overall combat capabilities in view of the lingering border row in eastern Ladakh.

The post Army to procure 1,000 surveillance copters, 80 mini remotely piloted aircraft appeared first on IMR.

The Hyderabad-headquartered Paninian India Private Limited, has completed the “conceptual validation” of its 4.5 KN Turbojet Engine and the prototype development has started.

The engine is further being developed into a new family in the range of 3-12 kilonewtons (kN) thrust, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) augmented digital twin companions.

AI augmented Digital Twins are meant for legacy engine performance modelling and prognostics for supporting mission performance and life extension efforts for aircraft like Jaguar, Sukhoi and Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force.

Such Digital Twins — required for cutting-edge prognostics, engine health and performance monitoring — have been conceived entirely from scratch in the country by Indian engineers, he said, adding that India can carry out life extension of engines locally and accurately without resorting to foreign assistance.

While Paninin has started setting up an actual test bed for its engine, the plan ahead is for the individual parts of the engine to undergo 2,000 hours of testing at the National Aerospace Laboratory. 

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been working on an aero engine in the 4.5kN category, which industry sources say is a reverse engineering of the Russian NPO Saturn 36 MT engine which is used by India.

The post Start-up Begins Development of Aeroengines appeared first on IMR.

Drone Airspace Map was published on September 24 last year, opening up nearly 90 per cent of Indian airspace as a green zone for drones flying up to 400 feet, said Singh.

“Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones was also notified on September 30 last year as well as UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Policy Framework was published on October 24 last year,” said the Minister.

A monetary grant programme for the purchase of agricultural drones was announced by the Union Agriculture Ministry on January 22 this year, and all application forms under Drone Rules, 2021 were also made online on the Digital Sky Platform on January 26.

Singh said that the drone certification scheme was notified on January 26 this year and the mission “Drone Shakti” was also announced for supporting drone startups and promoting Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS) as part of the Union Budget on February 1.

Besides, the drone import policy was notified on February 9, banning the import of foreign drones and freeing up the import of drone components.

He further mentioned that Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022 were notified on February 11, abolishing the requirement of a drone pilot licence. Now a remote pilot certificate is issued by a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorised Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTO) which is adequate for the remote pilot to operate drones.

Drones Rules, 2021 notified on August 25 last year, provide the necessary regulatory framework for the civilian or commercial use of drones.

These rules cover various aspects like type certification, registration and operation of drones, airspace restrictions, research, development and testing of drones, training and licensing, offences and penalties.

“An airspace map of the country segregating the entire airspace into red, yellow and green zones is available on the digital sky platform. The operation of drones in red and yellow zones is subject to the approval of the Central Government and the concerned Air Traffic Control (ATC) authority respectively. No approval is required for the operation of drones in green zones,” the Ministry said.

He said drones are required to have the necessary type certification issued by the DGCA, and that no type certification is however required in case of nano drones (up to 250 gram all-up weight) and model drones made for research and recreation purposes.

The Minister said the owner and operators of drones are required to furnish the necessary personal details including their Indian passport number for issuance of any registration or licence.

“Authorisation of RPTO will be done by DGCA within specified time limits,” said Singh.

As of July 20, there were 27 RPTOs authorised by DGCA. Of these, three RPTOs are located in Gujarat– Blue Ray Aviation Pvt. Ltd., Kaushalya- The Skill University and Sanskardham Drone Academy.

The post Steps Taken to Make India Global Drone Hub by 2030 appeared first on IMR.

The Army has significantly bolstered its fire power along the frontier with China by deploying a range of rockets and artillery weapons and plans to procure an array of additional systems, including 100 K9 Vajra howitzers and UAVs, to augment combat prowess.

The Artillery units of the Indian Army already deployed K-9 Vajra Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzers, ultra-light M-777 howitzers, Pinaka rocket systems and Dhanush gun systems.

The Army plans to equip its Artillery units along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with a range of up to 90 kms in addition to UAVs of 15-20 kms range. At present, medium altitude UAVs in the Army’s inventory are being operated by the Army Aviation units.

The Army is set to procure a new batch of 100 more K9 Vajras howitzers, in addition to 100 such guns ordered in 2017. The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the proposal for ordering 100 more K9 Vajras. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued soon.

The K9 Vajras were originally procured for deployment in deserts, but following the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Army deployed a significant number of the howitzers in that high-altitude region.

The Army is also procuring winterisation kits so the howitzers work in sub-zero temperature.

The Army is also in the process of procuring indigenously developed Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, commonly known as ATAGS, and Mounted Gun Systems (MGS). This gun system has many firsts to its credit – 25-litre chamber, long range, as also rapid and sustained rates of fire. The user trials on the gun systems have been satisfactorily conducted and that there are few procedural issues that are being taken care of.

Induction of more advanced Pinaka weapon systems is in the offing. Six more regiments of the systems are being procured and their delivery would commence soon. The new Pinaka regiments will be equipped with electronically and mechanically improved weapon system capable of firing variety of ammunition over longer ranges. One regiment of Pinaka has been inducted along Northern borders in high altitude area after extensive validation. The defence ministry has already approved procurement of guided extended range rockets for Pinaka.

The Army is also in the process of procuring ‘Loitering Munition System’ thereby augmenting its surveillance, target acquisition and precision strike capability. The Army is also in the process of procuring indigenously designed and developed Loitering Weapon System with enhanced strike capability.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The Army is procuring a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and target acquisition purposes—including loitering munitions for combat roles—for its artillery units deployed along India’s borders with China and Pakistan. This includes an unspecified number of mini UAVs for which internal deliberations are at an advanced stage and also loitering munitions which the Army bought last year under emergency procurement.

There is a need to procure runway-independent UAVs to possess the sensor-to-shooter capability.

This effectively means there is a need for UAVs to observe, acquire target, direct artillery fire and carry out post-strike damage assessment matching the extended ranges of the gun and rocket systems being procured by the Army.

The UAVs will aid the Observation Post (OP) Officers and Forward Observation Officers (FOO) with information gathered through surveillance in advance. The idea is to procure enough quantity so that every OP officer is equipped with at least one mini UAV in the future, which would help him see beyond the hill features in the high-altitude border areas. The Army always has OP Officers deployed at its defensive positions and an FOO—who is an artillery representative—accompanies the assaulting troops to direct artillery fire when they are advancing to capture a location.

The mini UAVs will have a range varying from 15-20 km to 75-90 km with matching endurance and will be employed for engagement of targets in tactical and depth areas.

Earlier this year, medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs such as the Herons and Searchers with the Regiment of Artillery were transferred to the Army Aviation Corps.

Last year, the artillery regiment also ordered an unspecified number of loitering munitions under the fast-track procedure from a joint venture firm of an Indian and a foreign manufacturer.

The loitering munitions—which are unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs)—can loiter in the air and close on the designated target and attack it by self-destructing onto it when directed. They are expected to arrive soon, the sources said.

Deliveries of the precision-strike loitering munitions, which are relatively smaller and cheaper explosive-armed kamikaze drones that wait to select high-value enemy targets and then crash into them, are set to begin under an emergency procurement contract inked with an Israeli-Indian private joint venture last year.

The launchers of the loitering munition can be protected passively and actively as well—including camouflage concealment, shoot and scoot mechanism, and air defence protection, among others.

The Army has received responses from the Indian industry and several firms have expressed their capability to manufacture the weapon system, said the sources, adding that in future India can develop self-reliance and graduate as a global leader in the loitering munition technology.

After the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, the deadly effect of loitering munitions or autonomous missiles has been reinforced by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Ukrainians have used Switchblade 300 and Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions supplied by the US as well as locally assembled weapons to stem Russian advances.

K9 Vajra Guns

The Army is now looking to induct another 100 K-9 Vajra guns, which have a strike range of 28-38 km, from the joint venture between L&T and South Korean Hanwha Defence. One K-9 regiment with ‘winterisation kits’ has already been deployed in eastern Ladakh from the 100 such 155mm/52-caliber guns inducted earlier for Rs 4,366 crore.

The K-9 guns were originally procured for deserts. But after the Chinese incursions in May 2020, they have been modified to ensure their batteries, oil, lubricants and other systems do not freeze in sub-zero temperatures. The next 100 K-9 guns will come with winterised kits.

The K9 Vajra, compliments and adds a punch while operating alongside tanks since it’s a tracked self propelled gun. For this reason, it was deployed in Ladakh along with armour.

Pinaka

Induction of indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket systems, with a strike range of 38-km, have also added more muscle along the frontier. With DRDO developing a variety of ammunition for the Pinaka, including rockets with over 45-km extended range and 75-km guided extended range, six more Pinaka regiments for Rs 2,580 crore will be delivered to the Army to add to its existing four. The Army also has three Smerch and five Grad rocket regiments of Russian-origin.

Pinaka is an all-weather, artillery-multi-barrel rocket system. It can fire 72 rockets in 44 seconds. It delivers a devastatingly lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets such as exposed enemy troops, armoured and soft skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, fuel and ammunition dumps.

M777 Howitzers

The M-777 howitzers can be swiftly airlifted to forward areas. The bulk of the 145 guns ordered for over Rs 5,000 crore from the US have also been inducted along the LAC. The seventh regiment of these howitzers, with a strike range of 30-km, is now also been operationalized.

The seventh regiment of M777 howitzers is in the process of the being raised. The 155mm, 39-calibre towed artillery guns can be airlifted by the Chinook helicopters at a short notice.. Helipads for the Chinook helicopters are being constructed at all forward posts in the northeast for the quick movement of troops and equipment.

ATAGS

Then there are the home-grown 155mm/52 caliber advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS), with a maximum strike range of 48-km, developed by DRDO with production partners Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Forge.

After successful winter and summer firing trials, the ATAGS is now undergoing environment and maintainability tests slated for completion in another two months. Commercial negotiations will then follow for the initial order for 150 guns at an estimated cost of Rs 3,365 crore to be split between Tata and Bharat Forge.

ATAGS is a robust indigenous system. The orders for ATAGS will only go up because the Army has a long-term requirement for 1,580 such guns.

Radars

Additionally, the indigenous weapon locating radar Swathi has been inducted and deployed along the northern borders. A counter-battery radar designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire, Swathi can assess the point of origin for counter bombing. The radar is similar to ANTPQ-37 radar, which has been in use with the Army in design and performance but is said to be more user friendly.

The post Army Boots Artillery Firepower Against China appeared first on IMR.

A fresh contract was signed recently with ideaForge for the advanced version — with higher endurance and additional technical features — of SWITCH tactical drones that are being used by Army’s special forces and infantry.

Delivery of the entire set of drones, meant for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), ordered from the Mumbai-based firm in January last year, has been completed and is being extensively used in Ladakh, where India and China are in a military stand-off since May 2020.

Besides tactical drones, the Army has also increased surveillance all along the LAC by bringing in larger Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), like the regular Israeli Heron and a set of four advanced Heron 2, procured last year.

It was for the first time last year that the Army had inducted specialised indigenous drones for surveillance.

The Mumbai based ideaForge had won the contract last year following a competition with Israel’s top UAV manufacturer Elbit, besides the Tata Group, Dynamatic Technologies Ltd and VTOL Aviation.

The 2021 contract was valued at about $20 million (around Rs 140 crores) and was the first high-value drone contract received by an Indian firm.

The standard man portable SWITCH weighs 6.5 kgs and is capable of vertical take-off, like a helicopter, with an endurance of two hours, even in high altitudes with low temperatures, high winds and low density of air.

The drone can be carried on the back of a soldier and deployed. It is capable of carrying out surveillance up to 15 kms, can be launched from altitudes of 4,000 metres, and has a maximum operating altitude of 1,000 metres with a wind resistance of up to 10.8 knots or 20 km per hour.

The new drones ordered by the Army are an advanced version, with extended endurance and cover 700 sq km from each take-off point. It also comes with encrypted communication and long-range target detection, with an HD optical zoom payload.

The post Army Orders SWITCH Drones for LAC Surveillance appeared first on IMR.

The defence ministry intends to procure 150 micro Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) for the Army. A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued with responses required by 26 June.

A lightweight, aerial surveillance platform with day and night sensors to enhance the situational awareness of squad and troop involved in various special operations tasks. The Micro RPAS should be man portable easy for a soldier to carry and operate. The system should have an operational range of up to 5 Kilometers, weighing not more than 6 Kilograms (All Up Weight) and endurance of not less than 60 Minutes.  The system should be foldable and suitable to be carried on man pack basis.  

The Micro RPAS should be controlled by a ground controller with a data link established with Micro RPAS. The Micro RPAS should be able to detect targets by day and night. The system should have a day camera and a night camera. The system should be launched in a Vertical Takeoff and Landing mode (VTOL).  The Micro RPAS should have the ability to transmit live video feed from GCS to remote location on user provided IP network with adequate bandwidth to support data transmission.  

Each Micro RPAS should comprise of the aircraft, a Hand Held Ground Control Station (HHGCS), complete set of sensor packages (with day & night capability), commercially available spare AV batteries (three sets per AV) and two commercially available spare batteries each for HHGCS.

The weight including two man-portable backpacks should not exceed 15 Kilograms and must be operable by maximum two persons.

The mission range with maximum All Up Weight (AUW) should not be less than 5 Kilometers (with loiter time of minimum 45 Minutes at the maximum range).  The Micro RPAS should have anti-jamming and anti-spoofing properties.

The time required for assembling the entire system and ready to launch should be within 15 minutes. and from transportable condition it should be possible to deploy the Micro RPAS within 20 minutes.

UAVs for Locust Control

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), through an order dated May 21, permitted the use of drones to spray pesticide and in aerial surveillance and photography, specifically in “anti-locust” measures, with due safeguards. The civil aviation ministry’s conditional exemption is applicable only for rotary wing drones not exceeding 25 kg.

Hitherto, aerial spraying by drones was allowed only on an experimental and highly restricted basis, given the many risks involved.

The locusts swarms that come from across the western border wreak havoc in border states, UP and MP. Drone-tech will now help our farmer communities and government agencies in combating this menace.

The order was approved within 24 hours, after the agriculture ministry wrote to the civil aviation ministry seeking permission to use drones, due to the threat posed by locusts to food security, in exercise of powers conferred under Rule 160 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.

The Faridabad-based Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) has been made the nodal agency for use of drones in combating the locust swarms. The DPPQS will be allowed to operate its own drones or work with third-party service providers to cover as much of the affected area as possible.

To avoid delays in their deployment, the agency will only need to upload details of every flight and pesticide sprayed within seven days of drone flights. No prior permission is needed.

The drones will need to have a Unique Identification Number (UIN) or Drone Acknowledgment Number (DAN), as per the order. India has granted DANs to around 20,000 drones so far.

The move comes soon after the government fast-tracked approvals for drone use in aerial surveillance and photography by its departments to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The civil aviation ministry has launched a portal, GARUD, for the same, and has permitted drone deployments even in densely populated urban areas.

The twin approvals could also set the stage for India coming up with progressive guidelines on drone use by civilians, said industry players. This could also boost the local drone industry, which has faced delays in getting various approvals from the government.

Boeing Unveils AI Drone

The Boeing aircraft manufacturer has presented the first three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered prototypes of an unmanned attack drone for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the company announced on 5 May.

According to Boeing, the drone, dubbed Loyal Wingman, is the first aircraft to be designed, engineered, and produced in Australia for more than half a century with mass production starting by the middle of the decade. According to Boeing, the Loyal Wingman drones will now be subject to rigorous ground and flight testing.

In February 2019, the Australian government announced an investment of $25.8 million in the project to produce the unmanned combat drone.

The Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft can reportedly conduct intelligence missions on its own or provide support to manned aircraft.

Chinese Drones Make Up 99pc of U.S. Public Safety Stock

Bard College recently released the Public Safety Report on Drones, noting that 1,578 public safety agencies have purchased drones. Only 1% (924) of drones are Made in the USA. The remaining manufacturers listed in the report manufacture their drones or parts in China as well.

DJI is largely credited for brining drones to the mainstream market with the Phantom being the public safety drone of choice. Many users question if they can even buy an American made drone that can compete with DJI.

The Phantom offers the best camera shutter and suite of 3rd party apps to solve nuanced problems.  Elite pilots always choose the Phantom for drone mapping, photography, inspections and videography.

Questions are being asked whether any American company can manufacture a drone that could compete at a reasonable price point. The footprint of American manufacturers is very small. The US simply cannot compete against the likes of DJI or even Autel. 

The Trump Administration is expected to vastly restrict Chinese made drones and even Chinese made parts.  Many lawmakers have been questioning public safety on their use of Chinese made drones due to security fears like possibility of DJI leaking data to Chinese servers.

If the American government were to eliminate the use of Chinese made parts, like brushless motors and simple propellers the entire drone industry would be affected.

According to Bard, the median cost of a small UAS was $12,000. It is high when compared to the average cost of a Phantom at $1,599.

The complexities in operating a ‘secure’ UAV, paired with the high cost to manufacturer the drone would eliminate this UAV as a competitor.

The post UNMANNED SYSTEMS: UAV News appeared first on IMR.