India To Put Missiles On Drones

[Zarvan]

The project costing more than `10,000 crore is being worked out in tandem with the defence major – Israeli Aircraft Industry

NEW DELHI : The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones so far used for surveillance may soon be equipped by the Indian Air Force with missiles under a top secret programme codenamed “Project Cheetah”.

The project that will cost more than Rs 10,000 crore is being worked out in tandem with defence major – Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI), to equip the Israeli-made Searcher and Heron drones with advanced snooping capabilities and missiles that can target terrorists and their hideouts, both within India and across the borders, according to a media leak.


It says the project has been in the work for quite some time and the government has recently ordered to involve the Indian agencies, including the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics to use their experience.

Former IAF vice chief air marshal R K Sharma says the development will be the most ideal as these UAVs that identify targets will also have the capability to strike . The armed drones will be able to destroy terrorist launch pads from the height of 30,000 feet, he said; pointing out that these unmanned vehicles can fly over the Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) for some time to gather accurate intelligence and then mount attack causing greater damage than what the Army troops can do.

The precision guided missiles would also help in specific elimination of the desired targets with none or minimum collateral damage in such operations, sources in the air force said. They said the drones can locate the terrorist hideout in the higher reaches of Kashmir and the missiles can be safely fired to destroy the terrorists without any fear of causing injuries to the civilians.

Sources also said the IAF had taken a cue from the United States to turn the surveillance drones into killer vehicles. They said the Americans have been using drones to regularly smoke out terrorists using their MQ-1 Predators and Global Hawk.

They said India had so far not used air power in the anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir or the north-east to take out the terrorists. At the moment the UAVs are basically used for reconnaissance and snooping. Once upgraded, the IAF will be able to operate these aircraft from far-off places and control them through satellite communication system.

India has, at present, a fleet over 200 drones bought from Israel and they are deployed on both eastern front with China and western front with Pakistan. The Army was the first to launch these UAVs in the 90s, starting with Searcher Mark I and Mark II that can operate at an altitude of 15,000 feet and the Heron which could operate at 30,000 feet.

The IAF followed the Army and acquired the same Israeli UAVs. The Indian Navy also has three operational squadrons of UAVs deployed along eastern and Western sea board. The Navy is now in the process of acquiring Predator XP drones used by the US Navy. It has sought 100 latest UAVs, both armed and surveillance versions worth US $2 billion from the United States.

The Army uses the drones to keep an eye on the movement of the Chinese forces in Ladakh, where physical patrolling is difficult. The incursion by the Chinese troops during the face-off in Chumar area was detected by UAVs and then confirmed by physical inspection by the pilots.

http://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-to-put-missiles-on-drones/965348

 

[Hindustani78]

True. I have noticed that ever since Pakistan has an armed drone Indian a$$ has been on a mega fire. They are in such a hurry to get an armed drone. Speaks volume of the paranoia,

Compared to Rustom-I that was test flown for the first time in November 2009, Rustom-II will be having Electronic Intelligence, Communication Intelligence, Medium and Long-Range Electro-optic Payloads and Synthetic Aperture Radar that will enable it to see through the clouds.

“Rustom-I is a primitive vehicle with minimal capabilities. Rustom-II, on the other hand, has several capabilities, including the ability to carry weapons,” G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, told DH.

“Rustom-II is a very big platform with a range of 250 km. However, for the first flight we will be flying it up to a distance of 50-100 km,” said a source associated with the UAV’s development.

The airframe had a weight of about 2,400 kg by 2015 end, which ADE scientists would have to bring down to about 1,700 kg in the final version for accommodating every sensor package.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd partners DRDO in the development of Rustom-II and has committed several hundred crores as financial support.

In July 1999, for the first time the Indian army deployed its new Nishant UAV system in the fight against guerilla forces backed by Pakistan in Kashmir.

Nishant Unmanned Aerial vehicle (UAV) was successfully flight tested near Kolar on 20 June 2008. Nishant has completed development phase and user trials. The Indian Army has placed an order for 12 Nishant UAVs along with ground support systems.

Nishant UAV requires rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher and is able to be recovered by a parachute system.

 

[JazbaatiHindustaani]

Good move from Indian establishment.

It will be much safer to target terror elements now without risking lives of our soldier. Hopefully they don't fear in crossing any border.

This should bolster our army's confidence even further to conduct surgical strikes inside and maybe even outside the border.

 

[Hindustani78]

Good move from Indian establishment.

It will be much safer to target terror elements now without risking lives of our soldier. Hopefully they don't fear in crossing any border.

This should bolster our army's confidence even further to conduct surgical strikes inside and maybe even outside the border.

Rustom-I that was test flown for the first time in November 2009.

Who are in arms race in the region is clearly visible ?

 

[Stephen Cohen]

This will take at least two years to get fully operational

 

[Hindustani78]

This will take at least two years to get fully operational

India has started the process of arming its indigenous MALE Class Rustom-I UAV with two fire-and-forget anti-tank missile “HELINA” which can also be used to destroy ground based terror training facilities or their launch pads . India is also working on miniature weapons like drop bombs and rockets which can be used on MALE Class drones but the process will take time before production of such drones takes place.

 

[IblinI]

Rustom-II is a very big platform with a range of 250 km.

Are you sure the spec you give is right? A 2000kg UCAV with range of 250KM?

 

[Skull and Bones]

Are you sure the spec you give is right? A 2000kg UCAV with range of 250KM?

It is not yet connected to SATCOM. It has an endurance of more than 24 hours.

 

[SOHEIL]

You know what happened to your indigenous drones? they fell from the sky like a pigeons dropping.
Come back here after two years and show us which indian made drones are armed with which indian made "fire and forget" missiles.

Buraq is indigenous?

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

drone can hit target precisely which means indian and pakistani soldiers death rate at kashmir will increase due to indian hostile and immature attitude.
note: pakistan already had this technology and it is battle tested.

Buraq is indigenous?

yes.

 

[SOHEIL]

yes

And china imported CH-3 from Pakistan?

I don't mean to troll...

 

[AMCA]

You know who is been BS'ing Indians for decades.
You very well know what happened to 35 years of Tejas pregnancy? Abortion!
You know what happened to your indigenous drones? they fell from the sky like a pigeons dropping.
Come back here after two years and show us which indian made drones are armed with which indian made "fire and forget" missiles.

Build a 50 CC moped before trying to joke around like this. Pregnant Tejas gave birth to SP series of aircrafts, while the JF-17 in its neighboring ward had to depend on Chinese insemination for even to get pregnant.

Nishant was like just 4 Drones since 2000. We already have equipped Rustom with HELINA(Both Indigenous)

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

And china imported CH-3 from Pakistan?

I don't mean to troll...

i insist.

 

[SOHEIL]

i insist.

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

Pakistan got missile tech from north Korea although they don't except and they got a edge on India in missile tech after that India made its own and equal pak and then better then pak and now India have a house edge on pak with 8000 km range missiles and upcoming 12000 km . is happened quickly becouse India made its on and know foundation technology and mature its engineers and scientists. So they will be able to upgrade better . so now happing with fighter your chines jf17 and India getting tejas it take time but getting irst aesa radar less weight. Low RCS carbon fiber body many more .India was behind getting equal but sure go far Forward with amca 5th gen .. The reason is same . and so with UAV or ucav we are behind ....... Then ........and then......................................

good. by the way pakistan got it's technology from north korea but it is constantly upgrading it. pakistan donot need intercontinental missile to hit india. pakistan is also way ahead in missile technology now. pakistan didn't buy jf 17 thunder from china under TOT but infact we jointly developed it. about tejas technology. tejas program is still under development while jf 17 had already been inducted at large numbers in pakistan airforce. and the technology gap will not be there in block 3. block 4 will be fifth generation aircraft.
in military point of view pakistan is almost at par with india. and economy will also become better after CPEC completion.