Europe, Israel in race for India's $1bn UAV programme

[vnomad]

Europe, Israel in race for India's $1bn UAV programme
DRDO is considering a BrahMos-style joint venture on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Indulal PM and Vyas Mohan
Mumbai

SAFRAN, THE parent company of Europe's second largest aero-engine maker, Sneema Moteurs, and Israeli Aviation Industries (IAI) are in the race for a pie of India's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) programme. "DRDO is working on the UAV programme for both military and civilian applications. Now we are thinking of a joint venture with participation from global expertise to add value to the project," a top DRDO official said.





When contacted, Safran India director Vincent Gorry told Hindustan Times that they were interested in the project. "Yes, we are interested in the project. Currently, we are evaluating the proposal. Nothing has been finalised," he said. However, IAl officials were not available for comments. At an initial investment of $1 billion, the Defence Research and development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to set up a joint venture for the UAV project, sources close to the development said. "We may go in for a BrahMos-like joint venture for UAVs. We are in talks with several firms, nothing has been finalised," he added. DRDO had formed a 51:49 JV with Russia for BrahMos. Currently, the defence ministry is evaluating a proposal to export the missile to third world countries on mutually agreeable terms. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADA), a Bangalore-based DRDO laboratory which developed India's first UAY Nishant, is in charge of the project along with public sector undertaking, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). ADE and HAL have already started the commercial development of Nishant. ADE is planning to exploit the Nishant design for armed UAV operations as well as non-military applications including rescue operations during floods, Tsunamis, earthquakes and oth- er natural disasters. The defence R&D firm is planning to develop a series of UAVs starting from a mere one-footer to bigger UAVs. Primarily used for military operations, including surveillance and reconnaissance, the UAV is a remotely piloted aircraft, which can fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans.


From Hindustan Times

 

[Cheetah786]

Pakistan army had its own UAV development programme for the past eight years “in which we are making three types of tactical UAV systems. These UAV systems include Hud-Hud and two others manufactured by integrated defense services”. ' :flag:

 

[niaz]

Pakistan army had its own UAV development programme for the past eight years “in which we are making three types of tactical UAV systems. These UAV systems include Hud-Hud and two others manufactured by integrated defense services”. ' :flag:

Most umanned aerial vehicles are either traget drones or acts as 'Spies in the Sky' or surveillance. For this purpose $1-billion is a lot to spend, cheaper to buy a predator like UAV off the shelf.

Real purpose behing this project could be to make a pilot less aircraft able to defend itself and act a true UAV fighter.

 

[Adux]

Sir,

Indian Navy already has a UAV sqaudron, We are talking about UAv's in large numbers here in this deal.

 

[Bull]

For this purpose $1-billion is a lot to spend, cheaper to buy a predator like UAV off the shelf..

We already have Searcher 1 & 2, Heron and Harpy in IA. And also Jt development hs its own advantages vis a vis outright purchase.

 

[Munir]

Isn't India capable of producing UAV's?

 

[Contrarian]

Yes.
But Israel is arguably the best in UAV's, right next to the US. Our UAV programs are still not mature and undergoing testing.

 

[kaali_daal]

Yes.
But Israel is arguably the best in UAV's, right next to the US. Our UAV programs are still not mature and undergoing testing.

Making an indigenous UAV would really be something. Yes, Israel is the best after US but if i were a India Patriot i would love a indigenous UAV no matter what. You are talking about a whole fleet too so indigenous would be the best call in this situation, but oh well.:flag:

 

[Contrarian]

We have a good indegenous UAV, Nishant, and developing some more. It will be inducted. But we need top-of-the-line UAV's atm, so Israel comes in, either direct purchase or some kind of JV.

 

[EagleEyes]

malay,

Any chance of Predator II being offered to India?

 

[Contrarian]

I can only guess Webby, seeing as US is not averse to selling India pretty much all apart from its most sensitive items, Predator 2 would be on offer as well. Ofcourse, ToT/licenced manufacture would not be there. And GoI wants some kind of JV on the lines of BrahMos as its. So that rules the Predator out completely.

My guess is it would be JV with Israel for a new type of UAV rather than buying the type that Israel has already made like Heron,Searcher-I/II, Harpy.

 

[Adux]

Israel Just built the world largest UAV

 

[kidwaibhai]

dude can you please give pics and specification

 

[EagleEyes]

Eitan: Israel develops the world's largest UAV
9 January 2007

An Agence France-Presse (AFP) report has quoted Israeli news paper Yediot Aharonot as saying that Israel is developing the world's largest unmanned aircraft. The drone is designed for long-range operations, such as targeting and destroying ballistic missiles even as they are being launched.

According to the report, the drone Eitan has been developed by the Israel Aircraft Industries and will have a wing span of 35 meters (110 feet), which will be similar in size to that of a Boeing 737 passenger plane.

The AFP report quotes the Yediot Aharonot daily as saying that the drone was designed for long endurance and high altitude flights and is equipped with an array of advanced cameras and missiles which allow it to identify and intercept long-range missiles as they are being fired on the ground.

The Eitan, according to the Yediot report, is due to make its maiden flight in the coming days.

http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20070109_develops.htm

 

[EagleEyes]

Israel to Unveil its Biggest Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, Reports Jane's



Israel is preparing to unveil a new high-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), reports Jane’s Defence Weekly’s Alon Ben-David.

Dubbed Eitan (Steadfast), the UCAV is the biggest in its class and far superior to anything else operated by Israel’s armed forces.

Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that Eitan, which will be operated by both the Israel Air Force and Navy, has an operational endurance of 50 hours, a considerable wing-span of 26 metres and is reportedly capable of carrying a maximum payload of 1,800 kg.

A senior Israel Navy source has told Jane’s Defence Weekly that “Eitan will be used for long range reconnaissance” but also added that “in the future, we won’t see any more manned MAPs [maritime patrol aircraft]”.

The UCAV has a cruising speed of 240 kt at 50,000 ft and, according to Israel Air Force magazine, the aircraft’s advanced avionics are ‘similar to that of systems that operate on fighter-jets’.

www.janes.com/press/articles/pc060307_1.shtml