India's Current & Future UAVs & UCAVs

[Neil]

Amid tensions with China, armed forces push case for arming Israeli drone fleet with laser-guided bombs, missiles
Amid border tension with China, the armed forces are pushing a case for arming their Heron UAVs with laser-guided bombs, precision-guided munitions and anti-tank missiles for taking out enemy positions and armoured regiments.

The proposal named Project Cheetah has been revived by the armed forces after being pending for a long time and is expected to cost over Rs 3,500 crores to the government.

"Under this project, around 90 Heron drones of the three services would be upgraded to be armed with laser-guided bombs, air to ground and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles," government sources told ANI.


The case is going to be considered by a high-level Defence Ministry body including Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who is now the in-charge of all capital procurements for the three services.

In the proposal, the armed forces have proposed to equip the drones with stronger surveillance and reconnaissance payloads for keeping an eye on enemy locations and stations and take them out, if required.

The Indian fleet of medium altitude long endurance drones also known as unmanned aerial vehicles includes mainly Israeli equipment including the Herons.

They have been deployed by both the Army and Air Force in the forward locations of Ladakh sector along the China border there. The drones are also helping in verifying the disengagement by Chinese as well as knowing their troop build up strength in-depth areas.

The project on upgrading the drones for carrying out offensive operations against the enemies would involve a number of Indian-developed solutions too.

The upgraded UAVs can be used against conventional military operations as well as in counter-terrorism operations in future, if required, sources said.

With the upgrade in reconnaissance capabilities, the forces on the ground would also be able to get pin-point intelligence about hideouts in areas where men have to be involved in operations.

The upgrades would also enable the Armed forces' ground station handlers to operate these aircraft from far-off distances and control them through the satellite communication system.

Amid tensions with China, armed forces push case for arming Israeli drone fleet with laser-guided bombs, missiles

Amid border tension with China, the armed forces are pushing a case for arming their Heron UAVs with laser-guided bombs, precision-guided munitions and anti-tank missiles for taking out enemy positions and armoured regiments. The proposal named Project Cheetah has been revived by the armed...

www.defencenews.in

Heron is an absolute beast. Wonder why do we need those USD 100m US made drones when Heron will get the job done.

 

[fire starter]

View attachment 55965

Heron is an absolute beast. Wonder why do we need those USD 100m US made drones when Heron will get the job done.

well it's heron TP aka eltan we are upgrading heron.

 

[Suryavanshi]

View attachment 55965

Heron is an absolute beast. Wonder why do we need those USD 100m US made drones when Heron will get the job done.

Well heron TP can't be armed with a heavy weapon load.

 

[WolfPack86]

Govt clears fast-tracking of projects to arm Israeli drones, produce Russian AK rifles in India

India on Tuesday approved measures to speed up long-pending projects to arm its Israeli drones with deadly weapons and indigenously manufacture Russian Kalashnikov assault rifles, while also clearing procurements worth Rs 8,722 crore of basic trainer aircraft, naval guns and specialized anti-tank ammunition. The decision by the Rajnath Singh-led defence acquisitions council (DAC) to fast-track the almost decade-old proposal to arm the Israeli Heron drones, in particular, is significant since it comes amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh. Sources said “Project Cheetah” to upgrade the Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with laser-guided bombs, air-to-ground anti-tank missiles and other precision-guided munitions as well as advanced reconnaissance capabilities will cost over Rs 3,500 crore. “The commercial contract negotiation for the drones’ upgrade was completed long ago. Now, it will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for approval,” said a source. The Indian armed forces have around 90 such medium-altitude, long endurance Heron UAVs, which are currently used for long-range surveillance and precision-targetingmissions. While these drones return after their missions like fighter aircraft, IAF also has some Israeli Harop “killer” or Kamikaze drones that act as cruise missiles by exploding into targets and radars. India is simultaneously also finalizing the plan to acquire the much more advanced Predator-B or weaponized Sea Guardian dronesfrom the US, with six of the proposed 30 drones likely to be procured through the fast-track procurement route now, as was first reported by TOI. The DAC also sorted out “some contractual issues” of the stalled Indo-Russia joint venture to make 6.71 lakh AK-203 rifles, a derivative of the famous AK-47 guns, at Korwa ordnance factory in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh. TOI had reported in June that the “unreasonable and unacceptable” costs for manufacturing the 7.62x39 mm caliber rifles, at an initial estimated cost of Rs 4,358 crore, had delayed the inking of the final contract. The actual procurements cleared by the DAC on Tuesday included the Rs 7,600 crore one for HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft (BTA), the prototypes of which are undergoing the certification process after being developed by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). “DAC approved procurement of 106 BTA from HAL to address IAF’s basic training requirements. Post-certification, 70 BTA will initially be procured from HAL and the rest 36 after the HTT-40 fleet becomes operational in IAF,” said the defence ministry. This comes after the government earlier rejected IAF’s case to acquire 38 more Swiss Pilatus trainers, to add to the 75 already inducted under the Rs 2,896 crore deal inked in May 2012, after the foreign company was found to have hired absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, as was reported by TOI earlier. The DAC also approved procurement of an upgraded version of the 76mm super rapid gun mount (SRGM) medium-range guns, which are fitted on naval and Coast Guard ships, from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). “The upgraded SRGM version has enhanced capability to perform against fast manoeuvring targets like missiles and fast-attack crafts, while increasing the maximum engagement range. It will boost the Navy’s firepower,” said the MoD. With the availability of requisite capability for indigenous development of ammunition, both in terms of manufacturing and technology, the DAC also approved procurement of 125 mm APFSDS (armour piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot) ammunition for the Army as a “design and development case”. The ammunition being procured will have a 70% indigenous content, said the MoD.

Govt clears fast-tracking of projects to arm Israeli drones, produce Russian AK rifles in India

India on Tuesday approved measures to speed up long-pending projects to arm its Israeli drones with deadly weapons and indigenously manufacture Russian Kalashnikov assault rifles, while also clearing procurements worth Rs 8,722 crore of basic trainer aircraft, naval guns and specialized...

www.defencenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

India’s Heron drones to be armed with missiles for precision strike missions

In a major move by the Indian Air Force, Heron drones which so far are being used for recce will now be equipped with missiles to attack enemies. The Indian armed forces operate nearly a hundred of these unmanned reconnaissance planes. The Heron unmanned aerial vehicles are already in the Air Force, Navy, and the Army and are being used extensively at the moment by both Army surveillance and Target acquisition batteries and Air Force in the Ladakh sector. But now, after over a decade of service, the Indian government wants these Heron drone to go to the next level. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence cleared a long-pending programme to upgrade these unarmed Heron drones. India Today has learnt that these drones will be fitted with with laser guided bombs, stand-off air to ground missiles and anti-tank guided missiles — capable of remote precision strike missions.

India’s Heron drones to be armed with missiles for precision strike missions – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

 

[WolfPack86]

India’s first steps into the world of armed drones India’s first steps into the world of armed drones
I am very angry at the India Today channel they just cut off Rustom 2 drone news and gone to Dawood Ibrahim news telling that he is living in Pakistan entire world knows that he living in Pakistan but why putting these useless making me angry.

 

[Adrian Corvus]

It's been some time since I've heard anything of Ghatak now...any updates on that?
What of the unmanned wingman too?

 

[WolfPack86]

Battle Cry: Modi Govt Mulling To Buy 6 Skyguardian Drones |India Today

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Armed Forces To Revive 'Project Cheetah': Here's All You Need To Know
Amid border tensions with China, Indian Armed Forces have decided to revive 'Project Cheetah' after being pending for a long time. Here's everything you need to know about the project.




Amid border tensions with China, Indian Armed Forces have decided to revive 'Project Cheetah' after being pending for a long time. The estimated cost of the project is over 3,500 crores.



About the Project Cheetah



Project Cheetah is to upgrade the drones to carry out offensive operations against the enemy. Under this project, 90 Heron drones of the three services would be upgraded to be armed with laser-guided bombs, air to ground and air-launched anti-tank guided missiles.



How Will The Project Benefit The IAF?


The newly equipped drones will help the IAF in keeping an eye on enemy locations from far distances and will also help them in controlling them through the satellite communication system.

Who Will Head The Committee?



The proposal of reviving the project has been sent to the newly formed high-level defence ministry committee and will be headed by Ajay Kumar. Ajay Kumar is currently the head of all capital procurements of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.



Why The Revival of Project Cheetah Has Been Proposed?


The decision to revive Project Cheetah comes at a time when the country is facing border tensions with China. Recently, a stand-off between India and China took place along the Actual Line of Control in eastern Ladakh.



Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle



The Made in Israel, Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is a medium-altitude UAV and can carry up to 250 kg of weight including thermographic camera, airborne ground surveillance visible light, radar systems, etc. The Heron UAV is capable of returning to base autonomously in case of lost communication.



Both the Indian Air Forces and the Indian Army use Israeli equipment including Herons. The Herons UAVs are currently deployed in Ladakh and China borders to keep an eye on the disengagement by Chinese troops and their build-up along the Actual Line of Control in the future.

Indian Armed Forces To Revive 'Project Cheetah': Here's All You Need To Know

Amid border tensions with China, Indian Armed Forces have decided to revive 'Project Cheetah' after being pending for a long time. Her...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[HawkisRight]

 

[Tuco]

So navy has ATV, airforce has UCAV what does army have?

 

[patriots]

So navy has ATV, airforce has UCAV what does army have?

Army has rustom 2..and it's ucav Variant

 

[Tuco]

Army has rustom 2..and it's ucav Variant

I meant in-terms of black projects. Nuclear submarine Navy, stealth autonomous bomber air force, army?

 

[patriots]

I meant in-terms of black projects.

Don't know..bdw ghtak ucav is a very secret project...very least available to public....bdw it's progressing well.

 

[Tuco]

Don't know..bdw ghtak ucav is a very secret project...very least available to public....bdw it's progressing well.

Why such secrecy? I mean it's not like no one else is working on it, most of them are ahead. If they are working on something new and exotic I can understand.

 

[fire starter]

Army has rustom 2..and it's ucav Variant

Ucav variant of rustom 2 . similar in design

 

[patriots]

Why such secrecy? I mean it's not like no one else is working on it, most of them are ahead. If they are working on something new and exotic I can understand.

Bro , don't know why there is so much secrecy....but secrecy should be maintained to safeguard your nation s interest.....Pak and China doesn't have any stealthy ucav project....china may have...Pak doesn't have....

 

[patriots]

Ucav variant of rustom 2 . similar in design

Mostly...but I didn't see any info on combat variant of Rustom 2....till now....

 

[Akula]

Why such secrecy? I mean it's not like no one else is working on it, most of them are ahead. If they are working on something new and exotic I can understand.

Better to keep it secret like other strategic projects.

 

[Tshering22]

We need something that launches missiles and drops bombs prepared indigenously. Where the hell is Dodo with the Rustom versions?