India's Current & Future UAVs & UCAVs

[Tshering22]

Getting predators at this stage is a death blow to our Rustom program. The CCS should have taken cognizance of the latest stages of the Rustom MALE drone development & struck this deal down long ago. India has its own NavIC program, drones in the making + a robust, enthusiastic startup environment in the UAV area.

The forces could have easily allocated a few existent Heron drones for increased surveillance of the border, while allocating the resources to expedite the Rustoms and Ghatak.

But NO.... #ImportArmedForces.

Construction of 3rd airframe started....

Seriously.. We are trailing behind a nobody like Turkey in drone making, only due to the speed (or the lack of) while having capability to develop them in-house.

The entire procurement board of IAF and Indian Army should be court martialled.

 

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https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/loitering-munition-developed-by-solar-industries-tested-successfully-in-ladakh/2486084/

 

[WolfPack86]

ADE starts fabrication of 4 Archer SR UAV and HALE UAV Prototype
The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is in process of fabricating 4 Archer ( Short range)- Armed UAVs which was previously called Rustam-1 SR that will initially be used to conduct various tests, and will be handed over to the indian army for user trials.

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is also ordering more ground control stations as the Rustam-2 program is nearing completion, and is expected to enter limited scale production soon.

ADE Director Dr. S Venugopal had said that Archer is of the same class as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 Armed drone. He also had confirmed that the advantage of Archer and Rustam-2 is that both use the same avionics and systems including LRUs and Ground stations that can operate both UAVs with a switch of software that will reduce maintenance and logistics issues for the squadron that will be operating both classes of drones from its base.

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has also started fabrication of the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV prototype.

Rustom-1 which was an unarmed predecessor of the Archer SR-UAV was not cleared by the Indian Army due to technical shortfalls and was then offered to CRPF where while carrying out trials it had crashed into a boundary wall. ADE says that most of the technologies have now matured thanks to the Rustam-2 program and many of the technologies have already been validated on the Archer SR-UAV in internal trials.

ADE starts fabrication of 4 Archer SR UAV and HALE UAV Prototype

ADE starts fabrication of 4 Archer SR UAV and HALE UAV Prototype

www.theigmp.org

 

[WolfPack86]

INDIA FORMS HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON CURTAILED PREDATOR DRONE DEAL WITH US
NEW DELHI: Amid a strong push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for 'Make in India' in defence, the Defence Ministry has formed a committee under a three star-rank officer to decide on the curtailed deal for buying predator drones from the US.

As per the plans, India was earlier planning to acquire 30 of these high-altitude long-endurance drones equipped with strike capability, including missiles, which were to be equally distributed among the three services.

"A committee has been formed under a Lieutenant General-rank officer of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters to decide on the number of Predator drones that the three services should buy to meet their requirements till the time indigenous development of similar equipment can be done," government sources told ANI.

Sources said the three services have requirements for these drones which can be used for surveillance as well as attacking enemy targets from standoff distances.

Almost all the defence deals planned through the import route had either been scrapped or put on hold by the Defence Ministry on the directions of the Prime Minister's Office in favour of indigenous weapon systems.

India is operating two predator drones which were hired on lease from an American firm and they have been helping the Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean Region.

The movement of Chinese research vessels and Anti piracy Escort Force is also constantly monitored by the two drones acquired on lease from the Americans.

India has acquired 12 American P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes for keeping an eye on the IOR and was working on getting six more of these planes.

However, after the government's instructions on import programmes, the government would soon decide on the project too shortly.

In line with the Prime Minister's directions, the Indian Navy is now charting an indigenous roadmap for all its requirements of weapon systems and equipment.

PM Modi has been giving a lot of stress on indigenisation and also recently told armed forces and other stakeholders that only made in India systems can provide them with unique solutions.

India Forms High-Level Committee To Decide On Curtailed Predator Drone Deal With US

NEW DELHI: Amid a strong push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for 'Make in India' in defence, the Defence Ministry has formed a ...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[lcafanboy]

India making FUFAji of Fighter planes....

 

[WolfPack86]

HAL TO START PRODUCTION OF FIRST 5 RUSTOM-2 (TAPAS) DRONES; OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF ARMED TAPAS
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is slated to start the production of the first 5 TAPAS Drones. The flight control systems, avionics and data-linked systems for the first 5 Tapas drones are ready. Rustom-II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can reach the required altitude of 28,000 ft, G Satheesh Reddy, chairperson of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) reported Janes.

In an official communication ADE also confirmed the TAPAS drones to be armed. Work on this is progressing fast.

Meanwhile, India’s armed drones program was slammed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a 2020 report, which noted that keeping end-users in dark, poor planning and flouting of standard operating procedures hurt Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) projects.

Most of the components required for the production of the drone is expected to go to private defence agencies, HAL's role would ne that of a lead integrator. The avionics, electronics, sensors, and ground control systems is likely to be manufactured by the state-owned defence sector behemoth BEL. DRDO’s Defence Electronics Application Laboratory, Dehradun, is responsible for developing and integrating the data links for Rustom-II.

Unmanned, Rustom-II has an overall length of 9.5 m and a wingspan of 20.6 m. It is powered by two Saturn 36T turboprop engines, each rated at 74.57 kW (100 hp). Also known as TAPAS-BH-201 (Tactical Advanced Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201), Rustom-II weighs 1,800 kg and has a cruising speed of 135 kt.

It is designed to carry payloads of up to 350 kg. The mission payloads are reportedly Israel-sourced and include electro-optic (EO) and infrared (IR) sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and maritime patrol radars, communications relay, and electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) packages.

“We are now looking at endurance,” the DRDO Chief G Sateesh Reddy said, adding that in a month's time, the DRDO expects Rustom II to achieve more than 18 hours of flight time while operating at an altitude of 28,000 ft.

In November 2021 the DRDO demonstrated Rustom-II's ability to take off and land autonomously as well as its ability to utilise India's satellite-based navigation system – GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation (GAGAN) – that has been jointly built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

DRDO projects are victims of massive time and cost overruns, plus there's a trust deficit between them and the armed forces. TAPAS drone is one of the many prime example of this chasm that is hounding India's defence production.

HAL To Start Production of First 5 RUSTOM-2 (TAPAS) Drones; Official Confirmation of Armed TAPAS

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is slated to start the production of the first 5 TAPAS Drones. The flight control systems, avionics and data-l...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[apoorv465]

Nice....

 

[Megalomaniac]

 

[Dark Sorrow]

After putting American Predator drone deal on hold, India eyeing Indo-Israeli armed UAV

Armed with strike capabilities, the Indo-Israeli long-range armed UAV is being developed by a private Indian firm in partnership with an Israeli defence manufacturer.

New Delhi: The Central government is now considering the acquisition of an indigenous long-range unmanned aerial vehicle after putting the American predator drone deal on hold due to a push for the Make in India initiative.


Armed with strike capabilities, the Indo-Israeli long-range armed UAV is being developed by a private Indian firm in partnership with an Israeli defence manufacturer.


The American predator drone deal was put on hold and a committee headed by a Lieutenant General was asked to review the entire deal which was coming out to be very expensive at around USD 4.5 billion for 30 drones.

“With the deal not moving ahead and almost all import cases being put on hold, we are now considering an armed UAV developed by an Indian private defence firm along with an Israeli defence manufacturer,” top government sources told ANI.


India was planning to acquire 30 American Predator high-altitude long-endurance drones equipped with strike capability, including missiles, which were to be equally distributed among the three services.


All three services have requirements for these armed drones which can be used for surveillance as well as attacking enemy targets from standoff distances.


Almost all the defence deals planned through the import route had either been scrapped or put on hold by the Defence Ministry on the directions of the Prime Minister’s Office in favour of indigenous weapon systems.


India currently operating two predator drones which were hired on lease from an American firm and they have been helping the Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean Region.


India has acquired 12 American P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes for keeping an eye on the IOR and was working on getting six more planes.


However, after the government’s instructions on import programmes, the government would soon decide on the project too shortly.

After putting American Predator drone deal on hold, India eyeing Indo-Israeli armed UAV

Armed with strike capabilities, the Indo-Israeli long-range armed UAV is being developed by a private Indian firm in partnership with an Israeli defence manufacturer., India News, Times Now

www.timesnownews.com

 

[Dark Sorrow]

India may opt for indigenous drones after putting American Predator deal on hold

Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones for surveillance.


Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones.




India is planning to buy an indigenously developed combat drone after the deal with America for Predator drones was put on hold to boost the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

The tri-services deal for 30 American drones was put on hold in January-February this year after a blanket order for putting all import deals on hold was issued by the Narendra Modi government.

“The Indian drone being developed with an Israeli firm is now under active consideration as the American deal has been stalled after it was asked to be reviewed by a committee of the Integrated Defence Staff,” government sources told India Today.


In view of the indigenous capability development, a high-level committee has been formed to decide on the number of drones that the three forces would want to buy now, as long as Terri requirements are met by the India-made drones being developed indigenously.

The committee is headed by a Lieutenant General-rank officer posted under the Department of Military Affairs, they said. Three services' headquarters wanted to acquire drones for surveillance and kill options, both in uncontested air space. The drones will come armed with advanced systems and weapons packages and enable long-range surveillance and precision strikes.

India’s drone shopping list includes the SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian variants of the MQ-9B. Reports said the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will each get 10 drones with customised specifications. The Indian Navy is already using two unarmed SeaGuardian drones that it leased last year from the US for surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Navy is the lead service for the acquisition of these drones.

India may opt for indigenous drones after putting American Predator deal on hold

Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones for surveillance.

www.indiatoday.in

 

[Mangal]

INDIA FORMS HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON CURTAILED PREDATOR DRONE DEAL WITH US
NEW DELHI: Amid a strong push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for 'Make in India' in defence, the Defence Ministry has formed a committee under a three star-rank officer to decide on the curtailed deal for buying predator drones from the US.

As per the plans, India was earlier planning to acquire 30 of these high-altitude long-endurance drones equipped with strike capability, including missiles, which were to be equally distributed among the three services.

"A committee has been formed under a Lieutenant General-rank officer of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters to decide on the number of Predator drones that the three services should buy to meet their requirements till the time indigenous development of similar equipment can be done," government sources told ANI.

Sources said the three services have requirements for these drones which can be used for surveillance as well as attacking enemy targets from standoff distances.

Almost all the defence deals planned through the import route had either been scrapped or put on hold by the Defence Ministry on the directions of the Prime Minister's Office in favour of indigenous weapon systems.

India is operating two predator drones which were hired on lease from an American firm and they have been helping the Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean Region.

The movement of Chinese research vessels and Anti piracy Escort Force is also constantly monitored by the two drones acquired on lease from the Americans.

India has acquired 12 American P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes for keeping an eye on the IOR and was working on getting six more of these planes.

However, after the government's instructions on import programmes, the government would soon decide on the project too shortly.

In line with the Prime Minister's directions, the Indian Navy is now charting an indigenous roadmap for all its requirements of weapon systems and equipment.

PM Modi has been giving a lot of stress on indigenisation and also recently told armed forces and other stakeholders that only made in India systems can provide them with unique solutions.

India Forms High-Level Committee To Decide On Curtailed Predator Drone Deal With US

NEW DELHI: Amid a strong push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for 'Make in India' in defence, the Defence Ministry has formed a ...

www.indiandefensenews.in

India may opt for indigenous drones after putting American Predator deal on hold

Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones for surveillance.


Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones.




India is planning to buy an indigenously developed combat drone after the deal with America for Predator drones was put on hold to boost the ‘Make in India’ scheme.

The tri-services deal for 30 American drones was put on hold in January-February this year after a blanket order for putting all import deals on hold was issued by the Narendra Modi government.

“The Indian drone being developed with an Israeli firm is now under active consideration as the American deal has been stalled after it was asked to be reviewed by a committee of the Integrated Defence Staff,” government sources told India Today.


In view of the indigenous capability development, a high-level committee has been formed to decide on the number of drones that the three forces would want to buy now, as long as Terri requirements are met by the India-made drones being developed indigenously.

The committee is headed by a Lieutenant General-rank officer posted under the Department of Military Affairs, they said. Three services' headquarters wanted to acquire drones for surveillance and kill options, both in uncontested air space. The drones will come armed with advanced systems and weapons packages and enable long-range surveillance and precision strikes.

India’s drone shopping list includes the SeaGuardian/SkyGuardian variants of the MQ-9B. Reports said the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will each get 10 drones with customised specifications. The Indian Navy is already using two unarmed SeaGuardian drones that it leased last year from the US for surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Navy is the lead service for the acquisition of these drones.

India may opt for indigenous drones after putting American Predator deal on hold

Months after putting the American Predator UAV deal on hold, India is planning to buy indigenously developed combat drones for surveillance.

www.indiatoday.in

After 8-10 years they will end up buying predators.

 

[WolfPack86]

Ministry of Defence, Government of India asks Indian Armed Forces to consider two Israeli UAVs for 30 UCAV requirement !!! #Ministry_of_Defence #Israeli_Aerospace_Industries #IAI #Hermes_900 #Heron_TP #India_Israel_Defence_Partnership

India's growing Military power

India's growing Military power, Chandannagar, West Bengal, India. 30,316 likes · 254 talking about this. India's growing Military power-IgMp is an Indian Defence Page which will not only stick to...

www.facebook.com

 

[WolfPack86]

INDIA NEGOTIATING FOR DRONE USED IN ATTACK ON AL-QAEDA TERRORIST AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI
New Delhi: When Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike in Afghanistan capital Kabul, the development was watched keenly in India.

For, New Delhi has been negotiating with Washington for the sale of similar drones — Predator — that can launch the Hellfire missile, which was used to kill Zawahiri. The Ministry of Defence is processing a case to get 30 such drones, 10 each for the Navy, Air Force and the Army.

Pictures from the Kabul home where Zawahiri was killed showed no signs of an explosion, pointing to the use of the secret weapon called the ‘Hellfire R9X’. The weapon has no explosive warhead, but deploys six blades, which fly in at high speed, crushing and slicing the targeted person.

Officially, the US Department of Defence or the CIA have never acknowledged the use of the ‘Hellfire R9X’.

The Hellfire missile has several variants. The ‘R9X’ variant is deployed to target a terrorist without damage to civilians, which a conventional missile won’t do on exploding.

As per available data, the ‘Hellfire R9X’ is a little more than five feet long and weighs just over 100 pounds and doesn’t leave behind any signs such as burnt-out shells or mangled marks. The weapon was used earlier too when US forces targeted Qaida-linked trainer in Syria in 2020. The weapon was used four to five times.

India Negotiating For Drone Used In Attack On Al-Qaeda Terrorist Ayman Al-Zawahiri

When Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by US forces in a drone strike in Afghanistan capital Kabul, the development was watched ke...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian armed forces buy 76 TAPAS combat drones, first delivery by 2023

By 2023, TAPAS combat drones will be introduced into the Indian military. A total of 76 TAPAS UCAV will deliver to all three branches of the Indian armed force.

Few days back it was reported that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will start working on producing six airframes to conduct evaluation trials of the TAPAS BH-201 drone, which will be used for missions by the armed forces. The airframe is the basic structure of the drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and includes its wings, tail, and main body

Confirming the development to The Indian Express, chairman and managing director of HAL, R Madhavan said, “We are now going to make some more airframes for TAPAS. Six airframes will be made for the user evaluation trials. This is a joint project by HAL and DRDO. TAPAS has to reach 30,000 feet which it has almost reached and has proven the endurance (hours spent in the sky) of more than 16 hours. Once the airframes are put to user trials, the production will start.” In March this year, DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy said TAPAS had reached a flying altitude of 28,000 feet.

Indian armed forces buy 76 TAPAS combat drones, first delivery by 2023 – Defence View

 

[WolfPack86]

INDIAN DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHER UCAV PROCEEDS
Flight testing is to proceed for the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) short-range, armed UAV called Archer, based on the earlier Rustom-1.


The Archer has a proposed 220km range and 12h endurance, and four more prototypes are to be manufactured by private players.

This testing follows an EoI released to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and half a dozen private companies in mid-2021. Discussions are ongoing, and this will lead to a down-select. The winner will be the lead manufacturer and integrator, but only 20 will be produced in limited series production.

The Archer UAV will be lighter than the Rustom-I, which was developed as a Technological Demonstrator (TD) for the Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201, also known as TAPAS BH-201 long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle program.

Archer UAV is reported to be an armed surveillance drone, although this has not been officially confirmed by the defence agency. The DRDO tested the Rustom-I with a decoy air-to-surface missiles for combat role, but the program did not advance further.

The Indian government has allowed the development of the Rustom MALE UAV project in association with a production agency cum development partner (PADP). The ADE officials indicated that the requests for proposals (RFP) would shortly be issued to four vendors which are the Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Godrej Aerospace Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-Bharat Electronics Limited (joint bid) who were chosen out of the 23 firms that responded.

Indian Development of Archer UCAV Proceeds

Flight testing is to proceed for the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) short-range, armed UAV called Archer, based on t...

www.indiandefensenews.in

 

[Super falcon]

Why not getting new uav from turkey aksungar are very secret

 

[WolfPack86]

Adani Predator Drone

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Why not getting new uav from turkey aksungar are very secret

Because we have our own drones. We don't need Turkish drones.

If we wanted better platform we can get one from the US. Turkish drones are not up to the mark.