UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Moving back to topic at hand: given the massive use of drones in the recent Ukraine war, it is all but certain we will see a similar usage with the Chinese and the Pakis. The former because they are quite advanced at it and the latter because they will be borrow and steal to do asymmetric warfare as any other type gets them annihilated.
The question is what is the IA doing to counter it? Ideally they should be asking the DRDO to build a low cost anti drone platform. From a kinematic perspective the drones are no different that WW2 planes, at least for the low and medium altitude ones. We need a low cost solution such as rapidly manoeuvring ack ack guns slaved to low altitude radars. Better still with another level of coverage using aerostat balloons for better warning… All the technology required for this already exists with us, its a matter of systems integration and finding out what is really practical.
The second approach is to build a drone force of our own, if not for anything to develop counter tactics.
All this requires a dedicated group of IA to work with DRDO to come up with a realistic product that can be rolled out for testing in a year…
Sadly we are headed towards yet another emergency purchase of some dubious solution based on a Ctr C Ctrl V of brochures in the RFI…
The question is what is the IA doing to counter it? Ideally they should be asking the DRDO to build a low cost anti drone platform. From a kinematic perspective the drones are no different that WW2 planes, at least for the low and medium altitude ones. We need a low cost solution such as rapidly manoeuvring ack ack guns slaved to low altitude radars. Better still with another level of coverage using aerostat balloons for better warning… All the technology required for this already exists with us, its a matter of systems integration and finding out what is really practical.
The second approach is to build a drone force of our own, if not for anything to develop counter tactics.
All this requires a dedicated group of IA to work with DRDO to come up with a realistic product that can be rolled out for testing in a year…
Sadly we are headed towards yet another emergency purchase of some dubious solution based on a Ctr C Ctrl V of brochures in the RFI…
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Sir, if you look at the Rus-Ukr conflict, cheap Iranian drones have created a cause for concern. Infact I read somewhere that using Patriot missiles which costs around 3M $ to kill a $20k drone is not sound war economics. Anti-drone system might be good, but creating cheaper Kamikaze drones that can overwhelm the enemy seems to important now. I doubt if Iranians had access to state of the art drone tech which our DRDO cannot manage! So what stops IA from adopting thousands of such drones whose job is the overwhelm the enemy. DRDO can even design such a basic drone with a conventional warhead and give the design to private companies to manufacture in large numbers. Even with the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, the Turkish drones overwhelmed an army that was trained for conventional warfare.Tanaji wrote:Moving back to topic at hand: given the massive use of drones in the recent Ukraine war, it is all but certain we will see a similar usage with the Chinese and the Pakis. The former because they are quite advanced at it and the latter because they will be borrow and steal to do asymmetric warfare as any other type gets them annihilated.
The question is what is the IA doing to counter it? Ideally they should be asking the DRDO to build a low cost anti drone platform. From a kinematic perspective the drones are no different that WW2 planes, at least for the low and medium altitude ones. We need a low cost solution such as rapidly manoeuvring ack ack guns slaved to low altitude radars. Better still with another level of coverage using aerostat balloons for better warning… All the technology required for this already exists with us, its a matter of systems integration and finding out what is really practical.
The second approach is to build a drone force of our own, if not for anything to develop counter tactics.
All this requires a dedicated group of IA to work with DRDO to come up with a realistic product that can be rolled out for testing in a year…
Sadly we are headed towards yet another emergency purchase of some dubious solution based on a Ctr C Ctrl V of brochures in the RFI…
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
^^
How do you know they have not thought of this or incorporated this into field tactics. We know that drones have percolated down to Inf Bn level AFAIK.
Do you not remember the choreographed drone display from Army Day last year? We also know that the IA has looked at various domestic players who have come into this arena in the last couple of years.
Or r the supposed to send a memo to all and sundry as to what their ops plans are?
How do you know they have not thought of this or incorporated this into field tactics. We know that drones have percolated down to Inf Bn level AFAIK.
Do you not remember the choreographed drone display from Army Day last year? We also know that the IA has looked at various domestic players who have come into this arena in the last couple of years.
Or r the supposed to send a memo to all and sundry as to what their ops plans are?
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Actually, Iran DID HAVE access to a state-of-the-art drone, in 2011. After much back and forth, Obama, The President of the US, asked Iran to return the drone. Lol was their response. The RQ-170 was a CIA drone - enough said.Amit_G wrote: I doubt if Iranians had access to state of the art drone tech which our DRDO cannot manage!
Google; "software to choreograph drones". Dime a dozen, including free software. Literally bachha party stuff. That you feel it is a unique achievement is one thing, hope the IA does not claim it to be. That would be a travesty.ks_sachin wrote:^^
Do you not remember the choreographed drone display from Army Day last year?
A couple of responses to this post ended up with the Paras Archer-B8 as an example of Indian achievement. I tried to get info about that particular drone, but could not find anything of interest to this post.YashG wrote:Some youtube analysts have claimed that assembling this would help DRDO in their own HALE projects. I cant believe that any screwdrivergiri can help in any learning useful for our own HALE.
But is there any truth to this claim?
YashG's post mention HALE and scredrivergiri. And, other posted that India had enough in-house tech to design and field a HALE. If true, then why stop there? Design a C-295 and field it too - both are craft-wise just about the same:
RQ-4 Global Hawk (HALE) C-130 C-295 and for kicks a Rustom
Length: 47' .... 98' .... 80' .... 17'
Wing: 131' .... 132' .... 84' .... 26'
Height: 15' .... 38' .... 28' .... 8'
That HALE needs 3 to operate. It is a massive craft.
It is laughable to compare a HALE (or any drone) to the Archer-B8. Or to "the drones are no different that WW2 planes" (even from a kinematic PoV).
I took a quick peek at which drones are used in the Ukraine war. The one that caught my eye was the Chinese DJI - the rest are rather tame. When Russia invaded Ukraine the US actually sent a DoD person to Beijing to ensure Chinese drones would not reach the battlefield of Ukraine - assuming that the Russians would be the beneficiaries. And, DJI withdrew sales and support in both Russia and Ukraine. So, I do not know who is suing DJIs.
China, by far, leads in both drone and AI technologies. Even their civilian drones are far more advanced than what most militaries can field (tech-wise), which includes the US. The only military that can about match China is Israel - craft + AI.
So, what is a "drone" in modern warfare spec out like?
There are drones more than we care about, but what is common with most drones fielded in 2023 is that each drone needs to come as close to a human in that environment. At a bare minimum, the drone needs to be able to identify threats and evade them - basics for what a human soldier would do, survive. Be able to operate without GPS, understand human voice commands, etc are welcome, but survival is the most basic feature - not drop bombs, etc.
The need for survival of a drone is inversely proportional to the size of the unit it is operating with.
There is drone tech that can understand human languages. As an exaggerated example, a drone set in Kashmir can fly all the way to Kerala just by reading street signs. Obviously, it can also ask humans for directions - in any Indian language.
There have been techs that can make bricks fly. So, that is never an issue. What is the issue is the amount of intelligence built-in into a drone and the moves.
Finally, although we are fond of using the word "drone", the more commonly used word is "unmanned vehicle" (EV). And, EVs are in the air, land, water, and submarine.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
The Archer B8 that Paras showed off is a straight forward copy of the Taiwan's Revolver 860.
This is taking screwdrivergiri to a whole new level.
This is taking screwdrivergiri to a whole new level.
Last edited by Pratyush on 02 Jan 2023 10:52, edited 2 times in total.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
NRao
Reign in your horses. My point was the IA has learnt lessons “drones” and is not twiddling its thumbs. It may be simple tech but you still need an appreciation of the same to deploy it!
They don’t need to tell is what they are doing. They are all not duffers in AHQ!
Reign in your horses. My point was the IA has learnt lessons “drones” and is not twiddling its thumbs. It may be simple tech but you still need an appreciation of the same to deploy it!
They don’t need to tell is what they are doing. They are all not duffers in AHQ!
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Pratyush do we care if it works and meets out needs. Is it not the software inside that is most complex. Is that also copied?
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
I don't care. I care that facts should be stated and we should not be under any illusions about the origins of the product.
I know that the basic product has been taken by Paras from the Taiwanese company. If it's been taken without any modifications, then there is no reason to modify the software.
The thing is that R&D is expensive and time consuming.
A readymade product from the India companies without serious funding is a little too much to expect at this juncture. Especially when the revenue stream is currently not assured at all.
One of the Indian defence you tube channels was saying that DRDO is thinking about licencing technologies developed for Tapas to Indian pvt sector companies for further development.
This IMO is the right approach to take for the development of MALE and HALE UAVs within India. But this will still take about 5-8 eight years to materialize. With sufficient funding. Also not every licensee will be able to fully utilise the license and come up with a usable product.
I know that the basic product has been taken by Paras from the Taiwanese company. If it's been taken without any modifications, then there is no reason to modify the software.
The thing is that R&D is expensive and time consuming.
A readymade product from the India companies without serious funding is a little too much to expect at this juncture. Especially when the revenue stream is currently not assured at all.
One of the Indian defence you tube channels was saying that DRDO is thinking about licencing technologies developed for Tapas to Indian pvt sector companies for further development.
This IMO is the right approach to take for the development of MALE and HALE UAVs within India. But this will still take about 5-8 eight years to materialize. With sufficient funding. Also not every licensee will be able to fully utilise the license and come up with a usable product.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Will respond l8r. Meanwhile, speaking of Ukrainian war, here is some data. I would not use Ukrainian war as an example.
Russia’s Electronic-Warfare Troops Knocked Out 90 Percent Of Ukraine’s Drones
Dec 24, 2022 article
That Taiwanese drone will never survive. Cannot.
It probably will take off and crash.
And, BTW, Ukraine has no drone. They were wiped out very early in the game. Granted after initial success. These drones are from NATO nations.
Russia’s Electronic-Warfare Troops Knocked Out 90 Percent Of Ukraine’s Drones
Dec 24, 2022 article
That Taiwanese drone will never survive. Cannot.
It probably will take off and crash.
And, BTW, Ukraine has no drone. They were wiped out very early in the game. Granted after initial success. These drones are from NATO nations.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
An article with a lot of details about Tapas by OvertDefense
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/02 ... als-stage/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/02 ... als-stage/
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Looks like the Army is loading up on drones, UGVs etc for logistics. I am glad to see the way the IA is embracing all aspects of drone tech - its one of the few areas where they have shown initiative & supported Atmanirbharta
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... abilities/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... hemis-ugv/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... abilities/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... hemis-ugv/
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
This will enable them to offload the mules and retrain their servicing arm to handle these drones for last mile delivery to the troops in the far flung border areas.Prem Kumar wrote:Looks like the Army is loading up on drones, UGVs etc for logistics. I am glad to see the way the IA is embracing all aspects of drone tech - its one of the few areas where they have shown initiative & supported Atmanirbharta
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... abilities/
https://www.overtdefense.com/2023/01/03 ... hemis-ugv/
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Tanaji Saar,Tanaji wrote:Moving back to topic at hand: given the massive use of drones in the recent Ukraine war, it is all but certain we will see a similar usage with the Chinese and the Pakis. The former because they are quite advanced at it and the latter because they will be borrow and steal to do asymmetric warfare as any other type gets them annihilated.
The question is what is the IA doing to counter it? Ideally they should be asking the DRDO to build a low cost anti drone platform. From a kinematic perspective the drones are no different that WW2 planes, at least for the low and medium altitude ones. We need a low cost solution such as rapidly manoeuvring ack ack guns slaved to low altitude radars. Better still with another level of coverage using aerostat balloons for better warning… All the technology required for this already exists with us, its a matter of systems integration and finding out what is really practical.
The second approach is to build a drone force of our own, if not for anything to develop counter tactics.
All this requires a dedicated group of IA to work with DRDO to come up with a realistic product that can be rolled out for testing in a year…
Sadly we are headed towards yet another emergency purchase of some dubious solution based on a Ctr C Ctrl V of brochures in the RFI…
there were few documented cases of indian solutions of modifying older anti aircraft guns and using them against drones along with desi company (called zen technologies) also providing services for the same. It was documented in BR only. providing links for the same.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2906&p=2517373&hili ... e#p2517373
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2906&p=2517445&hili ... e#p2517445
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7849&p=2518935&hili ... e#p2518935
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Twitter Thread....
https://twitter.com/RAFIndia_/status/16 ... sKIPujj62A ---> As we Know India's Bharat Forge & US' General Atomics has signed the partnership for manufacturing/assembly of 60% of MQ-9B drones to be bought by India. Here are the key & important parts of the MQ-9B to be Made in India with integration of India's own systems.
https://twitter.com/RAFIndia_/status/16 ... sKIPujj62A ---> As we Know India's Bharat Forge & US' General Atomics has signed the partnership for manufacturing/assembly of 60% of MQ-9B drones to be bought by India. Here are the key & important parts of the MQ-9B to be Made in India with integration of India's own systems.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Dec 22, 2022, the RFI on "Open Architecture for Command and Control" for the MQ-9B, issued by the US JSOC, closed.Rakesh wrote:Twitter Thread....
https://twitter.com/RAFIndia_/status/16 ... sKIPujj62A ---> As we Know India's Bharat Forge & US' General Atomics has signed the partnership for manufacturing/assembly of 60% of MQ-9B drones to be bought by India. Here are the key & important parts of the MQ-9B to be Made in India with integration of India's own systems.
The RFP opens in late Jan and closes in late Feb 2023.
Mega changes are on the way.
Typically a 3-phase project takes around 2 to 3 years to implement at the cost of about $3 million. This project has been set aside for small businesses with a preference for minority-owned.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Tanaji wrote:Moving back to topic at hand: .................
........... From a kinematic perspective the drones are no different that WW2 planes, at least for the low and medium altitude ones. .........…
How complex can an Unmanned Vehicle - in this case, an Air Borne EV - be?ks_sachin wrote:Pratyush do we care if it works and meets out needs. Is it not the software inside that is most complex. Is that also copied?
Each layer should consist of 3-10 experts!!!
This example seems to be from a civilian model. The military counterpart is FAR more complex - because it needs to understand the concept of "threat", evaluate, and then communicate it to the human handler.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
NRao ji, what you have posted is true of the uber specialised drones that Khan uses such as the ones from General Atomics and the Taranis concept. What we will be facing with Pakistan is more of the Ukranian variety: hexa/octopters that are cheap and disposable that will loiter or drop a mortar round on targets of opportunity. The next level up is the Baykar Bayraktar type drones… medium range. I doubt the Pakistanis will get more than a handful of a large number of MQ9 type drones from China…
Countering of each type of drones require very different tactics. The smaller ones will be numerous and need cheap radar cued projectile weapons. The MQ9 types will merit a air defence missile. All of them require tactics to be developed to defend against, ToEs to be built, decisions to be made on who holds what at what level for countering the same.
The answer is not just another emergency purchase. It will require IA to invest heavily in Indian developed counters. Sadly it looks like the Chandigarh lobby will make sure the IA will purchase something sub optimal at the last moment when the sh.t has hit the fan….
Countering of each type of drones require very different tactics. The smaller ones will be numerous and need cheap radar cued projectile weapons. The MQ9 types will merit a air defence missile. All of them require tactics to be developed to defend against, ToEs to be built, decisions to be made on who holds what at what level for countering the same.
The answer is not just another emergency purchase. It will require IA to invest heavily in Indian developed counters. Sadly it looks like the Chandigarh lobby will make sure the IA will purchase something sub optimal at the last moment when the sh.t has hit the fan….
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
@Tanaji,
My previous post was to show it is not as easy an effort as reflected in the two posts I quoted.
Briefly:
* Pakistan was exposed to "drones" during Obama's presidency - 2008. So, Pakistan has a mature drone industry, supported by the Chinese. I would not underestimate them. They are certainly way ahead of quadcopters
* On "General Atomics": Pretty much every US Federal agency has a JV effort, where they provide seed funds for leading-edge ideas. "Open Architecture" - above - is one such. I have competed with LM/Boeing and won. A lot of time small companies innovate and these big companies "acquire" them and claim the name/fame
* Russia took some 4/5 months to figure out how to counter Turkey-supplied drones. There are three ways: use missiles (1+-on-1), cut comms, or destroy the base that controls the drones. Russia figured out how to ID and destroy base controllers
____________________________
Military UVs are extremely complex. And, they are getting to be even more complex. The challenge is twofold: how to keep up with technology, and how to integrate the technology into the armed force. The latter is extremely difficult. As I had mentioned UV techs are considered an extension of the operational unit.
My previous post was to show it is not as easy an effort as reflected in the two posts I quoted.
Briefly:
* Pakistan was exposed to "drones" during Obama's presidency - 2008. So, Pakistan has a mature drone industry, supported by the Chinese. I would not underestimate them. They are certainly way ahead of quadcopters
* On "General Atomics": Pretty much every US Federal agency has a JV effort, where they provide seed funds for leading-edge ideas. "Open Architecture" - above - is one such. I have competed with LM/Boeing and won. A lot of time small companies innovate and these big companies "acquire" them and claim the name/fame
* Russia took some 4/5 months to figure out how to counter Turkey-supplied drones. There are three ways: use missiles (1+-on-1), cut comms, or destroy the base that controls the drones. Russia figured out how to ID and destroy base controllers
____________________________
Military UVs are extremely complex. And, they are getting to be even more complex. The challenge is twofold: how to keep up with technology, and how to integrate the technology into the armed force. The latter is extremely difficult. As I had mentioned UV techs are considered an extension of the operational unit.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
YashG wrote:A desi defence company in Ahmedabad is making exact same thing, they displayed it at defexpo - IA had been taking trials. Why wouldn't they procure it desi - like not even place a token order to help these small companies take off!Tanaji wrote:
I never fail to be surprised how the IA quickly manages to import items from no name manufacturers. Somehow the usual summer ,winter, rainy, full moon with Equinox and Deepika dancing in background type trials are never done in these cases.
How come there is money for this type of things?
All that lip service IA does for Startups - it ends up placing no orders to let a desi system really takeoff.
And **** these reporters calling imported systems game changers... can these ******* be stopped to use this 'game changing' drivel they use to sell imports!
happy for them. Hopefully what IA should be nurturing is being done by a foreign entity. I hope its an useful foreign order.Gridbots Technologies
@Gridbots : Gridbots TITAN going foreign land !
4:21 PM · Jan 20, 2023
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
India, US keen to conclude $3bn predator drone deal.
India and the United States are keen for an early conclusion of the 30 MQ-9B predator armed drones deal at a cost of over USD 3 billion, which will help New Delhi strengthen its overall surveillance apparatus along the Line of Actual Control and the Indian Ocean.
In the works for more than five years, the "ball is now in India's court", officials familiar with the development said Wednesday, without explaining further.
The MQ-9B predator armed drones -- 10 each for three services -- is seen to be a key part of India's national security and defense needs.
The officials did not elaborate further but ruled out that there was any bureaucratic hurdle or regulatory issues involved.
"I have to take that back and check on that," Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs Jessica Lewis told reporters here when asked for the delay in the deal, which was announced in the summer of 2017.
It has been pending for quite some time now, for reasons not known in the public. However, the issues are believed to have been discussed during the meetings that the visiting National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval has had with top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan.
During the meetings, it is believed that both sides expressed their eagerness to see that the drone deal is fast tracked. India is eager that an early decision would help it get an early delivery of MQ-98 predator armed drones that would strengthen its national security and surveillance not only in the Indian Ocean, but also along the LAC.
The Biden administration is keen on inking this deal as soon as possible, which will create jobs and would be politically beneficial ahead of the next year's presidential elections, according to people familiar with the development.
"MQ-9B would enable its Indian military users to fly farther than anything else in this category, spend more time in the air and handle a greater diversity of missions than any other similar aircraft. The SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian can deliver full-motion video in virtually any conditions, day or night, as well as other kinds of detailed sensing with their onboard systems," Vivek Lall, chief executive, General Atomics Global Corporation, told PTI.
"The aircraft also can carry a wide variety of specialist payloads if they must adapt to a specific mission. A SkyGuardian becomes a SeaGuardian, for example, when it carries a 360-degree maritime search radar that gives users a quality of maritime domain awareness they can't achieve any other way," he said.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and other sophisticated technologies help unlock the rich feed of insight from these aircraft, analyse it and distribute it to those who need it to take quick decisions, Lall said.
"Other payloads include communications relays so the aircraft can serve as a node connecting forces over land or sea or other intelligence, surveillance or military systems. These aircraft can conduct search and rescue, help fight wildfires, support customs authorities, augment naval forces and take many other tasks," he said
India and the United States are keen for an early conclusion of the 30 MQ-9B predator armed drones deal at a cost of over USD 3 billion, which will help New Delhi strengthen its overall surveillance apparatus along the Line of Actual Control and the Indian Ocean.
In the works for more than five years, the "ball is now in India's court", officials familiar with the development said Wednesday, without explaining further.
The MQ-9B predator armed drones -- 10 each for three services -- is seen to be a key part of India's national security and defense needs.
The officials did not elaborate further but ruled out that there was any bureaucratic hurdle or regulatory issues involved.
"I have to take that back and check on that," Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs Jessica Lewis told reporters here when asked for the delay in the deal, which was announced in the summer of 2017.
It has been pending for quite some time now, for reasons not known in the public. However, the issues are believed to have been discussed during the meetings that the visiting National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval has had with top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan.
During the meetings, it is believed that both sides expressed their eagerness to see that the drone deal is fast tracked. India is eager that an early decision would help it get an early delivery of MQ-98 predator armed drones that would strengthen its national security and surveillance not only in the Indian Ocean, but also along the LAC.
The Biden administration is keen on inking this deal as soon as possible, which will create jobs and would be politically beneficial ahead of the next year's presidential elections, according to people familiar with the development.
"MQ-9B would enable its Indian military users to fly farther than anything else in this category, spend more time in the air and handle a greater diversity of missions than any other similar aircraft. The SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian can deliver full-motion video in virtually any conditions, day or night, as well as other kinds of detailed sensing with their onboard systems," Vivek Lall, chief executive, General Atomics Global Corporation, told PTI.
"The aircraft also can carry a wide variety of specialist payloads if they must adapt to a specific mission. A SkyGuardian becomes a SeaGuardian, for example, when it carries a 360-degree maritime search radar that gives users a quality of maritime domain awareness they can't achieve any other way," he said.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and other sophisticated technologies help unlock the rich feed of insight from these aircraft, analyse it and distribute it to those who need it to take quick decisions, Lall said.
"Other payloads include communications relays so the aircraft can serve as a node connecting forces over land or sea or other intelligence, surveillance or military systems. These aircraft can conduct search and rescue, help fight wildfires, support customs authorities, augment naval forces and take many other tasks," he said
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Desi advanced surveillance drone to come out next week
NEW DELHI: India’s first indigenous advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for strategic reconnaissance and surveillance will make its public debut next week, while another home-grown weaponised drone is also slated to undertake its first flight test by June-July.
The Tapas-BH (tactical aerial platform for advanced surveillance-beyond horizon) drone, developed by DRDO with over 180 flights clocked till now, will live-stream the aerial and static display of different aircraft during the Aero-India show at Bengaluru.
“Tapas-BH will showcase its capabilities, which includes operating at altitudes up to 28,000-feet with an endurance of over 18 hours. The medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) is DRDO’s solution for ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) requirements of the Army, IAF and Navy,” a defence ministry official said on Thursday.
The armed drone called Archer-NG (next generation), which can carry 300 kg of weapons including smart anti-airfield weapons (SAAWs) and anti-tank guided missiles, in turn, will be flight-tested for the first time by June-July, sources said.
The Tapas-BH drone, earlier called Rustom-2, has a maximum speed of 225 kmph with a 20.6-metre wing span and “a command range” of 1,000-km with satellite-based communication.
“The UAV, also capable of night-flying, is now getting ready for formal user-trial evaluation by the armed forces. It can thereafter go for production in large numbers by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bharat Electronics and others,” a source said.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
going to starch my dhoti/lungi then..
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Tapas-BH have a lower service ceiling than the MQ-9B Predator does. Will DRDO increase its operational ceiling with the next iteration?
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
The Reaper has much higher available power. As compared to the Tapas. Once higher powered engines become available. Performance characteristics can be tweaked for specific mission profiles.
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Currently Tapas runs on 180 HP engine.Pratyush wrote:The Reaper has much higher available power. As compared to the Tapas. Once higher powered engines become available. Performance characteristics can be tweaked for specific mission profiles.
A 220 HP engine is being developed by CVRDE
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
The rated power of the new engine will still be less than the power plant of the MQ9 B.
But I would say that a clean sheet design for higher capacity can now be designed by the team. As the design and development efforts are now concluded.
But I would say that a clean sheet design for higher capacity can now be designed by the team. As the design and development efforts are now concluded.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
test run of tapas: click the twitter link
https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1 ... 5119056902
#DRDOUpadtes | #AeroIndia2023
Aerial coverage of Ground and Air display captured from indigenously developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance TAPAS UAV during rehearsal from height of 12000feet today.
@PMOIndia
@DefenceMinIndia
@SpokespersonMoD
https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1 ... 5119056902
#DRDOUpadtes | #AeroIndia2023
Aerial coverage of Ground and Air display captured from indigenously developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance TAPAS UAV during rehearsal from height of 12000feet today.
@PMOIndia
@DefenceMinIndia
@SpokespersonMoD
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
^^^^^^
The zoom has been set at 6 (of 10). The sensors can always be replaced, so that is not an issue.
Haze in India shows.
The zoom has been set at 6 (of 10). The sensors can always be replaced, so that is not an issue.
Haze in India shows.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Indigenous tactical drone ‘Tango Bravo’ steals limelight at Aero India 2023
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Army gets its first set of offensive swarm drone system, IAF next
https://theprint.in/defence/army-gets-i ... t/1368508/
13 Feb 2023
https://theprint.in/defence/army-gets-i ... t/1368508/
13 Feb 2023
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
You will need a Turboprop/Turbofan engine for Reaper-like altitude performance. Tapas runs on two piston engines. A new drone designed to be turboprop powered will be needed. The engine will have to be imported I suppose unless GTRE has a turboprop engine program somewhere.Neela wrote:Currently Tapas runs on 180 HP engine.Pratyush wrote:The Reaper has much higher available power. As compared to the Tapas. Once higher powered engines become available. Performance characteristics can be tweaked for specific mission profiles.
A 220 HP engine is being developed by CVRDE
What is important is not to let best be the enemy of good enough like we usually do. The Tapas in its current form can still be useful in both armed and unarmed versions to replace our Heron and Searcher UAV's. The Turkish Bayraktar is much smaller than the Tapas and not much larger than the Rustom-I and look how much PR and sales $$ they got derived out of that.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
The TAPAS is Medium Altitude Drone driven by a piston enginehgupta wrote:Tapas-BH have a lower service ceiling than the MQ-9B Predator does. Will DRDO increase its operational ceiling with the next iteration?
Predator is High Altitude Drone driven by a turboprop engine
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Aero India 2023: When India depends on Israeli drones, a look at top of the line 'India made' ones
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Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... -from-tasl
TASL delivering its ALS-50 loitering munition to the IAF. 100 on order and to be delivered by year-end
TASL delivering its ALS-50 loitering munition to the IAF. 100 on order and to be delivered by year-end
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- Joined: 31 Mar 2009 00:10
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
From the ADE stable, we have 3 high-end UAVs
1) Tapas
2) SRUAV-W: originally called Archer. Specifically designed to be armed
3) Archer-NG: an enhanced version of SRUAV-W
SRUAV-W
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... ons-trials
Swarajya on #2 and #3 (lots of details) https://swarajyamag.com/defence/drdos-s ... ramilitary
1) Tapas
2) SRUAV-W: originally called Archer. Specifically designed to be armed
3) Archer-NG: an enhanced version of SRUAV-W
SRUAV-W
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... ons-trials
According to the ADE project official, the weapons include the Helina anti-tank missile and the Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM). The ADE official said that the third munition being integrated with the UCAV is an anti-personnel missile. The official did not give details about the anti-personnel missile or the fourth missile being used in the trials.
The UCAV has two weapon hardpoints, one under each wing. “Each wing point can mount two missiles. At the moment, the SRUAV-W can be described as a limited UCAV,” the ADE project official said.
This is because of the smaller payload-carrying capability of the aircraft. It has a total weight of 750 kg. Janes assesses that the SRUAV-W has a weapon payload capacity of under 100 kg. The UAV also has an electronic payload comprising an electro-optical system (with colour charge-coupled device [CCD] and forward-looking infrared [FLIR]) and a laser designator.
Swarajya on #2 and #3 (lots of details) https://swarajyamag.com/defence/drdos-s ... ramilitary
Archer UAV can fly to a height of 22,000 feet for up to 12 hours, with a maximum range of 250 km. It can carry various Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) payloads for reconnaissance and surveillance.
The Archer-NG UAV can operate at a height of 30,000 feet and can carry various indigenously developed bombs and missiles like Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAWs) and anti-tank missiles.
It can also be used for ISTAR and post-strike battlefield assessment and will make its first flight by July this year.
Archer-NG can carry a maximum payload of 300 kg and has a range of 250 km with a Line-of Sight (LOS) link and 1,000 km with a Beyond Line-of Sight (BLOS) link.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Very interesting discussion on UAV technology, and some insights into the Chinese balloon technology.
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
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
looks like Mq 9
https://twitter.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1 ... 0914404352
Re: UAVs, Drones, Remote Surveillance Tech
Using the experience gained from both Tapas and trh Archer. It should be possible for this new UAV to come together in the next 30 to 36 months.
Provided approvals are received quickly.
Provided approvals are received quickly.