Spy wings

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Related Articles

New policy to boost Indian defence sectorBoeing IDS inks pacts with Indian defence PSUsLet, JeM getting help from disgruntled elements in...Join the army, Kargil hero's mother urge country's...

: For India’s armed forces, maintaining a constant vigil on the borders as well as the ability to accurately detect any suspicious activity—such as infiltration attempts by militants or unexplained movement of neighbouring countries’ troops—is being felt even greater these days. On account of Pakistan Army’s ongoing military action, there is a growing fear that militants are on the run and could crossover to the Indian side, notably Jammu & Kashmir.

Not surprising, top echelons in the Indian military establishment are insisting on rapid deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in large numbers to keep a watchful eye on the country’s borders.

Sensing a multi-million dollar business here, international defence majors have showcased to the decision makers their latest UAV offerings. These include micro UAVs, which a soldier can carry on his back and quickly launch, to complex UAVs which carry full weapon-loads to strike aerial and ground targets. According to Frost and Sullivan estimates, India’s market for UAVs is expected to touch $800 million by 2016.

While a decision on acquiring foreign technology is awaited, India’s indigenous programme to develop UAVs is gaining traction. The government has given the go-ahead to the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to select a partner from the Indian industry for the Rs 1,000 crore medium-altitude, long endurance UAV programme. The rationale is to reduce the time for design, development and subsequent transfer of technology to the industry for bulk production of the UAVs.

DRDO officials inform that private sector firms Larsen and Toubro, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing and Tata Advanced Systems have put in their bids to develop and build an indigenous UAV, used in surveillance operations. The three companies, and a fourth bidder —a combine of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Bharat Electronics— submitted their bids recently to the DRDO for the medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft, named Rustom, which will be designed to fly at least 250 km at a stretch.

This will be the first time a private company that wins the contract to manufacture the UAVs will work with the DRDO right through the development process.