UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

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Rakesh
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Rakesh »

https://twitter.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1 ... 78432?s=20 ---> ADE SWiFT will lead towards FUFA. The stealth UAV can also carry external stores.

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Prem Kumar
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Prem Kumar »

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2 ... edd0f3575c

How Russian Electronic Warfare was super-effective against Ukraine UAVs. Shows us the importance of the Samyuktha & Himashakti systems and also something to harden our own UAVs against
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Neela »

Atmavik wrote:New HALE UAV by DRDO, likely to use the same HoneyWell engine of HTT 40

looks like Mq 9

https://twitter.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1 ... 0914404352
This would require Ku-band Satcom link since range is 1000+km.
Do we already have these satellites for Army or Navy?
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Pratyush »

https://m.economictimes.com/news/defenc ... 189047.cms

Here we go. The one area where we were making relatively quick procurement progress. We are back to square one.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Cyrano »

X posting: Iranian attack drone :

https://arab.news/z6mbk
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by YashG »

Pratyush wrote:https://m.economictimes.com/news/defenc ... 189047.cms

Here we go. The one area where we were making relatively quick procurement progress. We are back to square one.
Import lobby? Perhaps someone inside MoD who wants to make cuts and was unhappy at indigenous orders manufactured this. Now that someone leaked this to press. Otherwise plenty of complaints go to MoD - they aint spoken about or taken note of.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Prasad »

We met up with Y Dilip, Dir ADE during Aero India and had a long chat. As usual, tons of details on Tapas, Archer-NG and how one leads to the other, improvements etc. Do watch.

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by ramana »

Thanks Prasad. Will listen carefully.
Please retain contact with him for I have a few points to tell in a week or so.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Atmavik »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqGSyCZN_Q

TAPAS: India's Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV makes a debut at Aero-India 2023

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by fanne »

Prasad wrote:We met up with Y Dilip, Dir ADE during Aero India and had a long chat. As usual, tons of details on Tapas, Archer-NG and how one leads to the other, improvements etc. Do watch.
Prasad what was the audio software used in this? It has very decently suppressed the background noise.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by ramana »

Atmavik wrote:New HALE UAV by DRDO, likely to use the same HoneyWell engine of HTT 40

looks like Mq 9

https://twitter.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1 ... 0914404352
The aerodynamics drive the layout and you get either an Archer twin tail booms or Predator cigar configuration.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Atmavik »

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Manish_P »

The cheap-ish iranian/chinese/russian Shahed-136 are making quite an impact in Ukraine

Pakistan will be increasingly interested in getting these. We need to have many portable AAAs to counter them

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Rakesh »

India Moves Closer to Approving Purchase of Armed Drones From the U.S.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-move ... minor_pos1
01 March 2023
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Rakesh »

ramana
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by ramana »

Prasad, What avionics bus is used for the MALE UAV?
Mil Std 1553B?
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Neela »

Karan-Ji,
Something on your pet peeve.
@ReviewVayu
Garuda Aerospace of India & 120 Make In India firms unite to drive local manufacturing and Indigenisation of drone sector.
Initiative will provide support to local manufacturers and companies who produce batteries, motors, and 75 other components required for drone production
https://twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1 ... 7787833344
We've got to trust the Def. ministry. RS called out the foreign components under "Make in India" label and we had drone companies highlighting aim to indiginize or already insourcing.
This is going to take years because unlike China, we havent had the 20 year history of stealing blueprints. SOrry to be blunt but I dont think there is anything organic about Chinese products. It doesnt matter , I know, but still.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Prem Kumar »

TASL's ALS-50 loitering munition's 1st batch delivered to the IAF! Impressive specs: VTOL UAV, which then converts to a fixed-wing, has a 50 Km range and a 2m CEP. Can be used for surveillance also and recovered in case of aborted strike

https://swarajyamag.com/defence/made-in ... iden-batch

Comes back-to-back with the IA's order for Nagastra-1 loitering munition from Solar Industries

https://swarajyamag.com/defence/indian- ... and-poland

These 2, apart from IA's Swarm Drone order from NewSpace, make up our loitering munition kit from local industries. Totally, about 2000 drones are in various stages of procurement. This is one area of procurement & Atmanirbhar that our Armed Forces are getting right
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by stephen »

"These 2, apart from IA's Swarm Drone order from NewSpace, make up our loitering munition kit from local industries. Totally, about 2000 drones are in various stages of procurement. This is one area of procurement & Atmanirbhar that our Armed Forces are getting right[/quote]

Now if they would only use this in large numbers in Kashmir, we may be able to bring down the casualty rate of our troops. I dont see any reason why these cannot be used in CI ops, especially in areas without civies or to attack the training camps or during infiltration. Its high time we ensure that every infiltration attempt is their last one.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Prem Kumar »

True. Given that Archer/Armed-Tapas are some ways away, there is no reason not to use these munitions to take out infiltrating jihadis. SF can be sent after the fact, if needed, to mop-up any survivors

It may not work in all environments, but will work well quite often. We have all seen UAV or HHTI footage of infiltrators. If you can see them, you can take them out

Most of these infiltrations occur in uninhabited/sparsely-inhabited places. The likelihood of collateral damage is near zero. Plus these munitions provide real-time video feed for man-in-the-middle control. A decision to abort can always be taken in case of likelihood of collateral damage
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Pratyush »

What is IAF's use case for 50 km range loitering munitions. Are they going to get close to the border with ground forces and then join army in attacking the enemy.

I would have thought that IAF would need longer ranged loitering munitions for Anti Radar work. Or for supporting extraction of downed pilots deep inside enemy territory.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Vips »

DRDO and Indian Navy team successfully demonstrated transferring of command & control capabilities of TAPAS UAV from a distant ground station to onboard INS Subhadra, 148km from Karwar naval base on 16 Jun 2023.

The UAV was seamlessly flying around an altitude of 20,000ft (ASML). INS Subhadra controlled UAV operations for 40min during its 3.30hrs flight duration.
DRDO.

TAPAS took off at 07.35hrs from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga which is 285 km from karwar naval base. One Ground Control station (GCS) and two Ship Data Terminal (SDT) were installed in INS Subhadra for controlling the UAV. After trial TAPAS landed back at ATR.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Rakesh »

India will acquire MQ 9B drones from US in phased manner, weapons to be procured in Phase II
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 58338.html
19 June 2023

https://twitter.com/VatsRishap/status/1 ... 30080?s=20 --->

- 15 Sea Guardians, 16 Sky Guardians
- Procurement phased, first 10 would be without weapons (unarmed).
- Element of localisation in the package? Provision of Indian built munitions being fitted.
- All will operate under a tri-service command, not distributed equally.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by AkshaySG »

Getting conflicting reports on the distribution.

Some reports saying tri service command, Some saying it's 15 +8+8 split between IN, IAF and IA

The Tri service would certainly make the most sense especially with Theatre commands coming into play but can never discount inter service rivalry especially when it comes to air assets

The Apache distribution still leaves a sour taste in my mouth
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Kersi »

Vips wrote:DRDO and Indian Navy team successfully demonstrated transferring of command & control capabilities of TAPAS UAV from a distant ground station to onboard INS Subhadra, 148km from Karwar naval base on 16 Jun 2023.

The UAV was seamlessly flying around an altitude of 20,000ft (ASML). INS Subhadra controlled UAV operations for 40min during its 3.30hrs flight duration.
DRDO.

TAPAS took off at 07.35hrs from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga which is 285 km from karwar naval base. One Ground Control station (GCS) and two Ship Data Terminal (SDT) were installed in INS Subhadra for controlling the UAV. After trial TAPAS landed back at ATR.
This has been done before with Heron UAV. The heron took off from land and command was given to a IN ship (a Leander class frigate) and then back to a land station for landing

This was in early/mid 2000s !!!!!!
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Pratyush »

For the past few days I am having this concept in my head.

A not so small quad copter drone. Powered by a Chetak turboshaft based engine converted to a generator. With the following equipment fit.

1) airborne deployment of ground based portable battlefield surveillance radar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BEL_Battl ... ance_Radar

2) thermal imager + lazer designator.

3) enough payload to carry 4 HELINA.

Operating autonomously over the battlefield in swarms of 6 to 8 machine.

With one of them flying high to take a good look at the battlefield.

The others taking targeting data and positioning themselves in optimum attack position.

Pop out and destroy the target in unison.

These should also be capable of operating along side Prachand. With a single Prachand acting as controller and command centre.

Is this doable within Indian defence industrial capacity?
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by sanman »

I think those drones Russia is deploying would be useful for India to have and use against Chinese artillery/missile launchers.

We should consider copying that idea for mass-manufacture
Last edited by sanman on 22 Jun 2023 16:51, edited 1 time in total.
Pratyush
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Pratyush »

I am thinking about that as well. I am reaching certain conclusions. But my thoughts have not been fully formed as yet. In the next few days. I will be presenting my thoughts in the very long range precision fires thread.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Aditya_V »

LOC is good place to test some of our weapons, next ti.e terrorists cross LOC we can try some.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Manish_P »

Aditya_V wrote:LOC is good place to test some of our weapons, next ti.e terrorists cross LOC we can try some.
+1

Cheap (relatively speaking) Shahed-136 type kamikaze drones could be used to target jihadi launch pads. Targeting the LOC crossers requires persistent surveillance & tracking with a quick reaction kill chain.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Atmavik »

https://youtu.be/qEjWX0B2iww

Discussion on MQ 9 B role in naval ops. The cost of 1 hr of mq 9b flight is a few thousand rs vs a few lakhs rs for p 8i
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by YashG »

MQs fro naval surveillance is useful decision. I never understood, 10/10/10 split. But hopefully now under a triservice command, MQs will be used for surveillance across seas and himalayas - not as bas as I thought this deal. + if Kalyani assembles these ( not sure how useful will that be - maybe allows Kalyani a foot in drone manufacturing.)
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Atmavik »

^ navy will get 15 and will be able to talk to other Khan origin naval platforms thanks to the many treaty signed. kalyani getting the assembly is welcome news. they have been investing in various platforms without any major orders. this will keep them in play and hope they can absorb any manufacturing tech they learn from this assembly and MRO for all region based MQ 9's
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Prem Kumar »

https://swarajyamag.com/defence/tapas-u ... ul-flights

Great milestone! Hope it sees a rapid user-evaluation and induction. 18hrs, 28000 feet, SATCOM and demonstrated ability of advanced networking like the recently proven transfer of control from a land-based ground station to a ship at sea.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by SSridhar »

https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1673734292655030279

200th flight of TAPAS UAV was demonstrated to the Tri services team for the first time at ATR chitradurga on 27th June 2023. Tri services team appreciated the indigenous efforts for development of UAV. TAPAS is now ready for user evaluation trials

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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by YashG »

Prem Kumar wrote:https://swarajyamag.com/defence/tapas-u ... ul-flights

Great milestone! Hope it sees a rapid user-evaluation and induction. 18hrs, 28000 feet, SATCOM and demonstrated ability of advanced networking like the recently proven transfer of control from a land-based ground station to a ship at sea.
Tapas will keep on improving but it should see limited actual production, limited actual service and then unlimited improvements.

Tapas has been ready for induction since a year or two. Its induction or production has been curtailed by MoD so as to not weaken the case for buying MQ9s and eliminate the commissions that MoD babus and their import coterie would have made. Such scumbags.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by YashG »

SSridhar wrote:https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1673734292655030279

200th flight of TAPAS UAV was demonstrated to the Tri services team for the first time at ATR chitradurga on 27th June 2023. Tri services team appreciated the indigenous efforts for development of UAV. TAPAS is now ready for user evaluation trials

Image
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Why are they using windows OS inside defence applications?! Should be using some sanitized version of linux made for India. Windows most probably carries secret US intelligence modules and is more widely experienced system for hackers. Linux on the other hand has limited experience in the hacking world (since commercial hacking operations are not viable for windows).

The only proper reason for using windows I can think is that they are using some hardware whose drivers are only available for windows OS & they would eventually move to linux when they scale up production.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Pratyush »

76 Tapas are already on order and the assembly line is active. With the 1st production item already handed over to the services for evaluation.

WRT, Windows OS. It's a well known OS. Even the Yahudi Conformal AEW is using that system.

Am quite sure that the Phalcone AWACS workstations run windows.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech

Post by Vips »

DRDO: Tapas UAV ready for user evaluation trials.

In a key milestone, the indigenously developed Tapas-201 MALE (medium-altitude long-Endurance) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is now ready for user evaluation trials, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said on Wednesday.

The UAV has been designed and developed by Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

Stating that Tapas was demonstrated to the tri services team for the first time at Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, some 200 km from Bengaluru, on June 27, DRDO said on Wednesday: “The 200th flight of Tapas UAV was demonstrated to the tri services team for the first time at ATR chitradurga. The team appreciated indigenous efforts for development of the UAV. Tapas is now ready for user evaluation trials.”

Tapas-201 is a multi-mission UAV that can perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles for the three armed forces. It has an endurance of 24-30 hours.

As reported by TOI earlier, the DRDO and the Indian Navy, on June 16, had successfully demonstrated transferring of command and control capabilities of the UAV from a distant ground station to onboard INS Subhadra — 148 km from Karwar Naval Base.

According to DRDO, Tapas has an operating altitude of 30,000 ft, endurance of more than 24 hours with earth observation and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) payloads and a range of more than 250 km.

It is enabled to carry a variety of payloads up to a maximum of 350 kgs and its mission requirements are to provide continuous wide area coverage and yet be able to identify small targets. “It is comparable in the same class as Israeli HERON UAV,” DRDO had said earlier.

Tapas can carry different combinations of payloads like medium-range electro optic, long-range electro optic, SAR, electronic intelligence, communication intelligence and situational awareness payloads and operate both during day and night.

This vehicle was earlier called the Rustom and DRDO is hopeful of customers outside of the tri services to make use of the UAV. State police forces, paramilitary forces and the Coast Guard are pegged as prospective customers.
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