Form of words:
New Delhi: In less than two weeks, the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have signed several contracts worth over Rs 500 crore in the field of drone technology, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on Indian companies adopting the new technology. has been focused. Warning.
The contracts signed by the services include the addition of over the counter drone systems to swarm drones with both kill and surveillance capabilities to purchase kamikaze drones or loitering munitions.
Sources in the defense and security establishment told ThePrint that the directive from the “top” is very clear – focus on Indian companies.
He said that the Prime Minister’s Office is emphasizing on adopting new warfare technology, which was seen during Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict.
Sources said the purchase of Swarm drones and rotating weapons by the Army and Navy as a part of a ‘revolution in military affairs’, popularly known as RMA, is changing the way war is fought.
Incidentally, all contracts are being signed under the emergency procurement route. Sources said that this is because the process is fast and for now it is aimed at helping domestic companies work on the upgraded variant.
Read also: India signs deal with Russia for immediate purchase of 70,000 latest AK rifles
Army signs maximum contracts
The new contracts signed are led by the military, which has signed three separate deals for different types of drones.
This includes two deals worth over Rs 200 crore for Swarm drones with Indian start ups — Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Tech, run by former IAF officer Sameer Joshi, and Noida-based firm Rapay, sources said.
Both the firms are Indian and do not have joint ventures with any foreign player.
Army has also ordered 100 Tactical Indo-Israel Kamikaze Drones, used in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, to strengthen its operational capability along the borders with Pakistan and China.
These drones, which are to be supplied in 12 months, will be manufactured in Bengaluru by a joint venture between Israel’s Elbit Systems and India’s Alpha Design, now part of the Adani Group.
Sources said the Navy has also placed a major order with an Indian joint venture firm for the specialized drone.
The force had also placed an order with defense PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for supply of Naval Anti Drone System (NADS) developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The Indian Air Force, which is looking at large tactical drones, has signed an agreement with Indian firm Zen Technologies for counter unmanned aerial systems.
Read also: Tests successful in Ladakh, Army is ordering 40 more K9 Vajra howitzers for mountains
Swarm Drones and Roaming Wars, the Way Ahead
The order placed with New Space Research and Tech is for drones that can hit targets with five to 10 kilograms of explosives, while also being used for surveillance and to deliver immediate medical and other supplies to soldiers.
These drones had Display During the Army Day Parade at Delhi Cantonment earlier this year.
A swarm of 75 drones, developed by the military and NewSpace Research & Tech, then demonstrated offensive capability by performing simulated kamikaze attacks on other targets, including enemy tanks, fuel depots, terror hideouts and radar positions.
The army then dubbed the system a “disruption technique”, which can hit targets within 50 km of enemy territory.
The company came first in the Army’s Swarm Drone evaluation trials in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra earlier this year. Incidentally, the algorithm used by the 2018 start-up for its drones is of Indian origin.
The second-ranked company – Rapay – has been awarded swarm drone contracts worth over Rs 100 crore, mainly for surveillance and load carrying capacity.
Quadcopter drones, which are capable of carrying a variety of payloads, were shown providing medical aid and para-dropping essential supplies to demonstrate that the system can be used to support troops deployed in harsh and forward positions. can be done.
The Army had then announced that a total of 600 kilograms of supplies could be carried by these drones.
According to sources, the plan right now is to introduce more complex and advanced versions in the future, which could then be part of a larger procurement process.
Each of the three armies is also focusing on munitions that change the dynamics of warfare. These meandering warheads are of various types for both long range and tactical operations.
Read also: Heron, Explorer, Marine Guardian, Switch – the many UAVs making up India’s drone arsenal
subscribe our channel youtube And Wire
Why is the news media in crisis and how can you fix it?
India needs free, unbiased, non-hyphenated and questionable journalism even more as it is facing many crises.
But the news media itself is in trouble. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism are shrinking, yielding to raw prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the best young journalists, columnists and editors to work for it. Smart and thinking people like you will have to pay a price to maintain this quality of journalism. Whether you live in India or abroad, you can Here.