Indigenous quick reaction air defence system to be ready for production next year.
The indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to complete user trials in the next six months and be ready for production next year, according to a defence official.
The QRSAM has a range of 30 km and can target an altitude of up to 10 km. The system is currently 90% indigenous and will reach 99% incrementally. The whole software is indigenous and the code and logic everything built here, the official said.
The DRDO carried out two successful test firings in November after which it said the missile precisely hit a Banshee target and destroyed it completely. “This was achieved with a new indigenously developed technology of Laser Proximity Fuse (LPF) for pin-pointed accuracy of hit. Till date, all missiles used Radio Proximity Fuzes,” said another official. “The LPF was developed by Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) in the last two years with a specific push by [DRDO] Chairman Satheesh Reddy,” he added.
The first official explained that the laser beam ensures the missile cannot be jammed. Akash was the country’s first automated air defence system and QRSAM is the first indigenous on-the-move air defence system, he observed.
The system gives 360 degree coverage and has been customised on domestic Ashok Leyland 8x8 vehicles. The launcher has six missiles and can target six different targets in 360 degrees, the official said, adding that all components, the radar, launcher and support vehicles are mobile.
India considers French offer of six Airbus multi-role mid-air refuellers
India is considering a French proposal to acquire six Airbus 330 multi-role transport tanker aircraft on a government-to-government basis for expanding the Indian Air Force (IAF) strike capability through latest mid-air refuelers. IAF as of now operate seven Russian IL-76 M refuellers with Pakistan acquiring same four refuellers from Ukraine and China operating three same Russian refuellers along with vintage 10 others modified versions of Russian bombers.
According to South Block sources, while IAF wanted to get an Airbus 330 MRTT on wet lease from a British company, the French proposal involves selling 5–7-year-old six aircraft for the air force with a certification of another 30 years of platform life at a much-reduced rate. IAF has been eager to acquire MRTT since the past decade with the previous RFP expiring without any results.
According to a former Indian Air Force chief, the Airbus 330 MRTT platform has much larger wings of Airbus 340 as a result of which the aircraft can refuel two fighters mid-air at the same time through drogues (attached to wing pods) or a central refuelling boom system. The best part about the Airbus aircraft is that it can transport 260 personnel in cabin and fuel in the cargo hold due to highly efficient and high-powered engines. The MRTT can be turned into purely a tanker or transport or air ambulance or all three at the same time with a total crew of three.
Mid-air refuellers are a key to expanding the operational envelope of the IAF and Indian Navy carrier-based fighters by extending their range. According to the former IAF chief, a mid-air refueller can be used to extend the flight of a Su-30 MKI or Rafale flying from Port Blair all the way up to Sunda, Lombard and Malacca Straits for freedom of navigation missions.
“The French proposal is a win-win for IAF as the international market for aerial platforms is down due to Covid-19 pandemic. The aircraft does not guzzle fuel and has high power engines to operate from high altitude air bases in Ladakh like Leh, Thoise and Nyoma at the same time transport troops or conduct medical evacuation if required,” sa
Indian Air Force Enhances Combat Potential With AI-based ‘Swarm Drone Technology’.
The Indian Air Force has taken a big step towards developing indigenous 'Swarm Drone' technology which uses artificial intelligence to enhance its combat capability. On Saturday, the IAF shared pictures of swarm drone tests on its official Twitter handle, with the caption: "IAF is leading the way in using Artificial Intelligence to add to its combat potential. Swarm drones is a prime example."
Testing of Swarm Drone technology is a major achievement for India. UVA and small drones are flown together in a large swarm through AI technology. It is used for simultaneous large attacks on enemy tanks, ICVs, infantry combat vehicles and trucks loaded with soldiers and ammunition, which are equipped with such drones, missiles or bombs. Swarm-drones are also used to jam the enemy's communication-systems and radars on the battlefield.
Three images of the tests were posted by the IAF, showing at least 15 hexacopter UAVs flying in a coordinated manner from an airbase. The images were, however, blurred. Whether the blurring was done intentionally to hide the characteristics of the drones, is not known.