Indian Army: News and Discussion

WolfPack86

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Indian Army Hands Landmark $20-Mil Deal To Indian Drone-maker IdeaForge
In what can only be interpreted as the Indian Army choosing to closing the door firmly on foreign drone products that were inbound to meet a basic long-standing infantry requirement at high altitudes, the Indian Army has just awarded a landmark $20 million (nearly ₹140 crore) contract to Indian drone maker ideaForge for an undisclosed number of its SWITCH tactical drones for use by infantry troops and special forces deployed at high altitudes.

The number of SWITCH drones to be supplied is likely in the hundreds, with each 6.5 kg unmanned air vehicle capable of vertical take-off, conventional flight, 2-hour endurance and surveillance out to 15 km from altitudes of 4,000 meters. Proven across several rounds of trials, and competing against foreign offerings, the Indian SWITCH drones, built in Maharashtra, will be delivered to the Army very quickly under fast track protocols, with the order completed over the next year. The drones will be deployed on priority to Indian Army troops and special forces units deployed across the friction points of eastern Ladakh.

While the Indian armed forces have inducted ideaForge drones in the past, this is by far the biggest single order the company has landed. The fact that the contract is from its single biggest potential customer is major affirmation for the company, the ‘Buy Indian’ ideal and the big validation this will trigger for exports of Indian drone products.

In July this year, Livefist interviewed IdeaForge CEO Ankit Mehta at a time when the Switch was in trials and under consideration by the Army. Today’s contract reveal is the end result of those trials held in Ladakh. IdeaForge’s SWITCH was chosen over offerings from India’s Tata Group, Dynamatic Technologies Ltd (DTL), VTOL Aviation and Israel’s Elbit. While not certain, the contract award potentially brings to an end a long-standing push to import 200 U.S-built RQ-11 Raven infantry drones.

“ideaForge has been awarded this contract after it emerged as the only vendor that qualified the operational requirements in an evaluation done in real-world conditions, for a fast-track procurement. The contract marks a strategic shift in the Indian defence procurement process as the Indian Army goes on an aggressive modernization drive. It has also cemented ideaForge’s position as India’s largest manufacturer of drones for defence, homeland security and industrial applications,” the company said in a statement shared with Livefist.

According to IdeaForge, the Switch is a VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) drone that can be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night surveillance in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, with the highest time on target compared to any other UAV in its class.

Speaking on the landmark contract, Mehta said in a statement shared first with Livefist, “SWITCH UAV is the culmination of insights and knowledge we have gained over years of experience in helping the Indian Forces operationalize UAVs in their ranks. The trials saw about a dozen national and global players compete to meet the operational requirements. SWITCH UAV is the only product that cleared the Indian Army’s stringent product trials and surpassed expectations. It is a testimony of the fact that our systems are built like a bird and tested like a tank. Our systems are fully ready to serve nations that seek to protect their territorial sovereignty.”

Today’s contract also settles suspicions that the Indian Army planned to import tactical drones, instead of induct indigenous products that met all requirements. In July this year, Livefist had reported on how the Army had sought information from foreign vendors for a fast-track procurement of high altitude drones. You can read that detailed report here.

A combination of world-class technology and a deep understanding of customer requirements has resulted in ideaForge bagging this contract against global competition. With the backing of reputed institutional investors such as WRVI, Infosys and Qualcomm, ideaForge is all set to grow rapidly. We plan to work with like-minded investors and partners to achieve our vision of premier drone company serving enterprise, security and surveillance market globally”, said Ganapathy Subramaniam, Partner with WRVI Venture Capital who also serves as Executive Chairman at ideaForge.
 

flanker99

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they said a swarm of 75 drones can deliver 600kgs worth of materials,assuming each drone have same payload thats just 8kg per drone.isnt that pretty low?(im no expert)...Although im happy that they demonstrated the capability but the imo it shouldve been more realistic.The demo we saw looked a bit too cartoonish. Just my thought no offense to anyone
 

Cruise missile

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they said a swarm of 75 drones can deliver 600kgs worth of materials,assuming each drone have same payload thats just 8kg per drone.isnt that pretty low?(im no expert)...Although im happy that they demonstrated the capability but the imo it shouldve been more realistic.The demo we saw looked a bit too cartoonish. Just my thought no offense to anyone
I may look cartoonish during demonstration but in battle field it would be deadly. Still I believe that it's not the final iteration.
 

ezsasa

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they said a swarm of 75 drones can deliver 600kgs worth of materials,assuming each drone have same payload thats just 8kg per drone.isnt that pretty low?(im no expert)...Although im happy that they demonstrated the capability but the imo it shouldve been more realistic.The demo we saw looked a bit too cartoonish. Just my thought no offense to anyone
they can do multiple trips by swapping the batteries too, there by making supply theoretically infinite. can’t they?

India has officially entered into a new domain of warfare from today.

Imagine sending precise coordinates from LORROS, and a swarm attacking the coordinates.

possibilities are limitless.
 

ClawReed787

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Don't know about the drones but I just saw a soldier do the Tom and Jerry walk. Cringy as hell
 

another_armchair

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they said a swarm of 75 drones can deliver 600kgs worth of materials,assuming each drone have same payload thats just 8kg per drone.isnt that pretty low?(im no expert)...Although im happy that they demonstrated the capability but the imo it shouldve been more realistic.The demo we saw looked a bit too cartoonish. Just my thought no offense to anyone
Try carrying a load of 10 kg at an altitude of 5000 metres. The utility of drones used for critical supplies would far outweigh the cons whether they look cartoonish or not. Picture the same with porters, mules making a beeline towards a steep trek.

How long would it take to cover a distance of 3-5 km of absolute inclines, inhospitable terrain, low oxygen. These will remain low cost solutions and must be used and reused till the technology is refined enough to become an indispensable part of the system.
 

flanker99

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yes it would a good capability to have in the field but the way it was demonstrated was lacking to say the least.Agreed this isnt the final iteration the commenter was saying military is aiming for a 3 to 4 digit swarm thats huge and game changing.
yes possibilities are limitless but this demo left a really bad taste.
 

ezsasa

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yes it would a good capability to have in the field but the way it was demonstrated was lacking to say the least.Agreed this isnt the final iteration the commenter was saying military is aiming for a 3 to 4 digit swarm thats huge and game changing.
yes possibilities are limitless but this demo left a really bad taste.
Doordarshan has the superb ability to make anything look ugly.
Visuals are irrelevant here, rarely does IA operate in a 3D environment, drones open up that possibility.

here 3D refers to ability to move in any direction.
 

notaname

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The Swarm drone capability was rather good like it was not a normal one like a drone travels from base and hits the target through Kamikaze attack but it was different it was like that a mother drone takes off from base and carries another small drone with explosives and then the mother drone reaches the Target area and identifies the target and launches the child drone and child drone got capability to reorient itself to engage target and boom, on top of that say if there the target which was acquired is not much important and there is more important target nearby and the mothership identifies it and locks it then the child drone will engage that target and it can again reorient itself for another target. And the mother drone was shown to have 50km range. The child drone got its own targeting algorithms so it can correct itself if it deems so. :india:


See from 1.25

 

Arihant Roy

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May the Devils continue to vanquish our sworn enemies in their own territory

May the Cavalry bash on through defended lines and annihilate enemy armour on hostile soil

May the Gunners be Accurate to the very last metres

May the Infantry be Ruthless and ever dominating

May the Signallers always be Crisp and precise

May the sleuths at M.I be silent and all hearing

May the Aviators in their Raybans be soaring to Great Heights

May the Mess have the requisite levels of supplies and rations

May the AMC chaps and docs always be around to tend to the wounded

May the sappers continue to bridge the rivulets and rivers passionately and clear a path through minefields

May the mandarins at Ordance corps continue to have adequate levels of WWR

And May the techwizards at EME continue to keep the machinery and the business end of stuff in tip top shape.

- P Roy

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Greetings to the Indian Army personnel and their loved ones on the occasion of Army day. The nation and her citizens salutes the indomitable courage, dedication ,valour and the sacrifices of the gallant and valiant men and women in olive green.
 

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