UAVs and UCAVs

[ace009]

Why does the DRDO deisgned UAVs look like they are made up of plastic, have been hastily put together an lack any advanced design optimization? Compared to Israeli, American or European UAVs, DRDO products look a generation or two old in terms of industrial design. Any answer why?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

MIG Scat UCAV

 

[Patriot]

Don't Breathe, There's a UAV Outside

California-based TiaLinx has launched a mini-UAV carrying a miniature millimeter-wave radar able to detect someone hiding motionless behind a wall - by sensing their breathing. The Phoenix40-A UAV carries a "fine-beam ultra-wideband, multi-gigahertz radio-frequency sensor array" designed for standoff surveillance of compounds and other premises.

According to TiaLinx, the RF scanner transmits highly directional wideband signals that can penetrate a reinforced-concrete wall at an extended range, The system will detect someone hiding behind the wall by sensing the motion of their chest as they breathe, the radar's developers say. Less ominously, such a sensor could be used to find people buried in collapsed buildings after an earthquake.

As pictured above, the Phoenix40-A is based on an off-the-shelf UAV - it looks a bit like the HexaKopter six-rotor RC helicopter from MikroKopter - but TiaLinx says it is moving towards its own design as no available platform offers the combination of weight, speed, endurance and precision landing capability it is looking for.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.festo.com/cms/en_corp/11369_11378.htm#id_11378

SmartBird – bird flight deciphered

Aerodynamic lightweight design

SmartBird is an ultralight but powerful flight model with excellent aerodynamic qualities and extreme agility. With SmartBird, Festo has succeeded in deciphering the flight of birds – one of the oldest dreams of humankind.


This bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously – with no additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in combination with a complex control system attains an unprecedented level of efficiency in flight operation. Festo has thus succeeded for the first time in creating an energy-efficient technical adaptation of this model from nature.
New approaches in automation

The functional integration of coupled drive units yields significant ideas and insights that Festo can transfer to the development and optimisation of hybrid drive technology.

The minimal use of materials and the extremely lightweight construction pave the way for efficiency in resource and energy consumption.

Festo already today puts its expertise in the field of fluid dynamics to use in the development of the latest generations of cylinders and valves. By analysing SmartBird's flow characteristics during the course of its development, Festo has acquired additional knowledge for the optimisation of its product solutions and has learned to design even more efficiently.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://iafnews.nuvodev.com/posts/indian-navy-eyes-more-israeli-uavs/

Indian navy eyes more Israeli UAVs

India's navy has operational requirements for additional unmanned air vehicles made by Israel Aerospace Industries, sources say, with these to potentially include improved Heron or Heron-TP systems carrying maritime sensor payloads. Evaluations using some systems have already been carried out, they add.

The Indian navy in January stood up its second UAV squadron, with its current IAI-produced Heron and Searcher II systems facing increased operational demand. This has led to indications within recent weeks that additional contracts could be placed with IAI, the sources say.

In addition to having already provided UAVs to the Indian navy, IAI is also equipping the service with additional equipment, such as the Barak-8 air defence missile.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-combat-drone-project/articleshow/7938639.cms

India quietly begins combat drone project

NEW DELHI: India is quietly going ahead with an ambitious programme to develop its own stealth UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) or 'smart' drones capable of firing missiles and bombs at enemy targets with precision.

Talking about the secretive AURA (autonomous unmanned research aircraft) programme for the first time, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) told TOI that the aim is to develop the UCAVs for IAF in seven to eight years.

"With Rs 50 crore as seed money, a full-fledged project team with 15-18 scientists has already begun work on the UCAV's preliminary design and technology. With on-board mission computers, data links, fire control radars, identification of friend or foe, and traffic collision avoidance systems, they will be highly intelligent drones," DRDO's chief controller R&D (aeronautics) Dr Prahlada said.

"Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,000 feet and weighing less than 15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions) they will carry," he added.

The realisation that UCAVs are "game-changers in modern-day warfare" has been reinforced by the successful use of American 'Predator' and 'Reaper' drones, armed with Hellfire and other missiles, against the Taliban in the Af-Pak region.

"But unlike Predators, which are like aircraft, our UCAVs will be more of 'a flying-wing' in design. This will ensure they have a low radar cross-section to evade enemy sensors," said Dr Prahlada.

Pakistan, incidentally, has been after the US to get Predators but so far has only managed to extract assurances for supply of the unarmed 'Shadow' drones for intelligence-gathering missions.

DRDO, on its part, is confident of developing the UCAVs mainly on its own, with "some foreign consultancy or collaboration" in fields like stealth as well as autonomous short-run take-off and landing.

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) at Bangalore is the main nodal DRDO lab for the AURA project, with others like Defence Avionics Research Establishment (Bangalore), Defence Electronics Application Lab (Dehradun) and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (Bangalore) chipping in.

As earlier reported by TOI, apart from spy drones, India already has some "killer" drones like Israeli Harpy and Harop UAVs. These drones basically act as cruise missiles by detecting and then destroying specific enemy targets and radars by exploding into them.

UCAVs are much more advanced, almost like fighter jets in the sense that they let loose missiles on enemy targets before returning to home bases to re-arm themselves for the next mission.

IAF is also exploring "add-ons or attachments" to its existing fleet of Israeli Heron and Searcher-II UAVs to upgrade them from their present surveillance and precision-targeting roles into some sort of combat drones.

Infograph

* UAVs are major force-multipliers for their ability to send back real-time imagery of enemy targets with their sensors and cameras. They are cost-effective and eliminate risk of aircrew being killed since they are remotely-piloted from far away.

* Armed drones like 'Predators', controlled through satellites from thousands of miles away, are being used to fire 'Hellfire' missiles to devastating effect against the Taliban in Af-Pak region.

* UCAVs (combat UAVs) being currently developed may well replace manned fighter jets in the years ahead for medium and long-range tactical as well as strategic bombing missions.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India quietly begins combat drone project

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/7938639.cms


NEW DELHI: India is quietly going ahead with an ambitious programme to develop its own stealth UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) or 'smart' drones capable of firing missiles and bombs at enemy targets with precision.

Talking about the secretive AURA (autonomous unmanned research aircraft) programme for the first time, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) told TOI that the aim is to develop the UCAVs for IAF in seven to eight years.

"With Rs 50 crore as seed money, a full-fledged project team with 15-18 scientists has already begun work on the UCAV's preliminary design and technology. With on-board mission computers, data links, fire control radars, identification of friend or foe, and traffic collision avoidance systems, they will be highly intelligent drones," DRDO's chief controller R&D (aeronautics) Dr Prahlada said.

"Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,000 feet and weighing less than 15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions) they will carry," he added.

The realisation that UCAVs are "game-changers in modern-day warfare" has been reinforced by the successful use of American 'Predator' and 'Reaper' drones, armed with Hellfire and other missiles, against the Taliban in the Af-Pak region.

"But unlike Predators, which are like aircraft, our UCAVs will be more of 'a flying-wing' in design. This will ensure they have a low radar cross-section to evade enemy sensors," said Dr Prahlada.

Pakistan, incidentally, has been after the US to get Predators but so far has only managed to extract assurances for supply of the unarmed 'Shadow' drones for intelligence-gathering missions.

DRDO, on its part, is confident of developing the UCAVs mainly on its own, with "some foreign consultancy or collaboration" in fields like stealth as well as autonomous short-run take-off and landing.

Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) at Bangalore is the main nodal DRDO lab for the AURA project, with others like Defence Avionics Research Establishment (Bangalore), Defence Electronics Application Lab (Dehradun) and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (Bangalore) chipping in.

As earlier reported by TOI, apart from spy drones, India already has some "killer" drones like Israeli Harpy and Harop UAVs. These drones basically act as cruise missiles by detecting and then destroying specific enemy targets and radars by exploding into them.

UCAVs are much more advanced, almost like fighter jets in the sense that they let loose missiles on enemy targets before returning to home bases to re-arm themselves for the next mission.

IAF is also exploring "add-ons or attachments" to its existing fleet of Israeli Heron and Searcher-II UAVs to upgrade them from their present surveillance and precision-targeting roles into some sort of combat drones.

Infograph

* UAVs are major force-multipliers for their ability to send back real-time imagery of enemy targets with their sensors and cameras. They are cost-effective and eliminate risk of aircrew being killed since they are remotely-piloted from far away.

* Armed drones like 'Predators', controlled through satellites from thousands of miles away, are being used to fire 'Hellfire' missiles to devastating effect against the Taliban in Af-Pak region.

* UCAVs (combat UAVs) being currently developed may well replace manned fighter jets in the years ahead for medium and long-range tactical as well as strategic bombing missions.

 

[thakur_ritesh]

yeah right, words tend to have new meaning with these chaps at DPSUs. indeed quietly! next what? on time?!

 

[Armand2REP]

yeah right, words tend to have new meaning with these chaps at DPSUs. indeed quietly! next what? on time?!

They hope in ten years when they miss a delivery date... people will forget it ever happened.

 

[A.V.]

i am baffled as to what new aspects does the DRDO bring to the table , i am in no way demeaning its efforts but would it not be good to make a joint venture for such a product which will yeild a good product on time going by the success of LRSAM and brahmos it would be feasible to invest in a JV with a more detailed and good return

 

[Ray]

Alongside, India requires to work on nanotechnology so as to make the UCAVs into real force multipliers.

 

[Armand2REP]

i am baffled as to what new aspects does the DRDO bring to the table , i am in no way demeaning its efforts but would it not be good to make a joint venture for such a product which will yeild a good product on time going by the success of LRSAM and brahmos it would be feasible to invest in a JV with a more detailed and good return

Dassault partnered with Saab, Thales, EADS France, EADS Casa and Alenia Aeronautica on NEURON with a six nation consortium. All of which have far better expertise than DRDO on the subject. DRDO is turning into Dr.dodo with all the projects they start but will never finish.

 

[A.V.]

by the ways of it after 10 years of effort and over spending DRDO will call the assist managers to help out , people burn theirt hands once , then twice but third time they are careful , there is no shame in taking help or co-operation. Wake up planners

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

guys look at the last line of the article.does it mean that iaf is now gaining interest in
strategic bombing.may be after aura drdo should work on a bigger version of aura so that iaf has its own version of unmanned b-2stealth bomber.

 

[p2prada]

Dassault partnered with Saab, Thales, EADS France, EADS Casa and Alenia Aeronautica on NEURON with a six nation consortium. All of which have far better expertise than DRDO on the subject. DRDO is turning into Dr.dodo with all the projects they start but will never finish.

All your partnerships has more to do with reducing development costs and assuring orders in the long run.

US, China, India and Russia are the only countries who can commit to major projects of their own because of the massive requirements from their armed forces.

There is no shame in JVs like what you have. It means better allocation of funds even if it takes more time.

Countries like India and China will need help from outside to churn out successful products. DRDO has to go through a major overhaul if they want to compete outside rather than just cater to the Indian Armed Forces.

Anyway about this drone project.
Everything is hush-hush. So Shhh!

 

[sandeepdg]

guys look at the last line of the article.does it mean that iaf is now gaining interest in
strategic bombing.may be after aura drdo should work on a bigger version of aura so that iaf has its own version of unmanned b-2stealth bomber.

Let them come up with the UCAV first, don't dream about unmanned stealth bombers as yet.

 

[karna]

Is it really possible to convert Heron and searcher in to combat drones? What about our Nishant and Rustom?

 

[gogbot]

Is it really possible to convert Heron and searcher in to combat drones? What about our Nishant and Rustom?

It depends on a few factors.

Can we put Fire control radar on-board.
Does it have the payload capacity to carry missiles

And after adding the weight of both missile and FCR , does it still have a respectable operating range.

My opinion , it's better to develop a new drone designed for the task.

 

[codysmacks]

Truth is Indian Engineers are capable of anything. But they are not given the opportunity to prove their talent and to use their talent to develop our country. Other countries value our talents more than our own country. And so most Indians fly off as soon as completing their degree. Truly i believe if the government places a contest for engineering students to build a model of this combat drone, i am sure they will have thousands of models ready within months.

 

[nirmal]

Truth is Indian Engineers are capable of anything. But they are not given the opportunity to prove their talent and to use their talent to develop our country. Other countries value our talents more than our own country. And so most Indians fly off as soon as completing their degree. Truly i believe if the government places a contest for engineering students to build a model of this combat drone, i am sure they will have thousands of models ready within months.

Guys India through its various research organisations like DRDO,VHF,Ordnance factories accross the country has proved its capability by producing state of the art items like NAG,AAKASH,PINAKA,AGNI,PRITHVI,LCA,ARJUN,ARIHANT etc over the years.The list is not small.We do have red tapism,inefficiency,greed but the fact is still we are capable and some people with good intentions and national interest are giving their best for the country.May be another 10 years down the line we will be proud to compare ourselves with the best in the world.

Let us be positive in our thinking