Kamal Ghorui
Ongoing conflicts have demonstrated that drones are rewriting how wars are being fought. The army, keeping pace with this remarkable technology, has released a document titled – Indian Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM). The drone roadmap for the army was released by Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance).The aim of releasing the document is to increase the long-term visibility of the army’s requirements in the field of Unmanned Aerial Systems, which are seeing an increase in their role and scope on the modern battlefield.Through the vision document, the Indian Army seeks to bring together different stakeholders, such as industry, R&D bodies, and academia, on the same page to channelise and boost domestic capability. The release of the document will further help by directing resources such as investments and technological efforts towards the areas prioritised by the end user.The Indian Army is seeking to expand the use of drones in various combat and support roles. These roles include the destruction of hostile drones, loitering munitions, helicopter-launched littoral systems, drones that can drop bombs and mine-laying drones in the combat roles.While in support roles, the army is seeking indigenous drones for reconnaissance missions, for survey of land, electromagnetic jamming, radio relay between distant points and for long-range hauling of stores.The mission statement seeks to drive technological development to meet the operational requirements of the army across different terrains, ranging from the high altitudes of the icy Himalayas to the tropical rainforests of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the south, and every type of terrain in between.This, with an emphasis on giving a boost to the defence ecosystem in general and the drone ecosystem in particular. There is also an emphasis on increasing the participation of MSMEs and start-ups in this evolving indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.
What army requires from domestic drone industry
Counter UAS: detect and destroy hostile dronesLoitering munitions: persistent strike capabilityHelicopter launched littoral systems: coastal strike supportBomb delivery drones: precision air dropped munitionsMine laying drones: remote emplacement of area denialReconnaissance / ISR: persistent surveillanceLand survey/mapping: terrain and route assessmentElectromagnetic jamming: spectrum denial and EW supportRadio relay: extend communications between distant pointsLong range logistics: haulage of stores and resupply
