Indian Air Force to induct first killer drones

[Rajaraja Chola]

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force is planning to induct its first self-destructing combat drones from Israel by next year for enhancing its firepower.

The Israeli-made Harop unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) will give IAF the capability of hitting high value targets such as enemy missile and radar sites without sending its manned fighter aircraft.

"The UCAV are expected to join us by next year enhancing our firepower in both conventional and low intensity conflict," a senior IAF official told PTI here.

Harop will be IAF's first combat UAV for offensive strikes, though it already possesses a fleet of Searcher and Heron UAVs to perform surveillance and reconnaissance roles.

Unlike the Predator drones being used by the US against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan that can fire missiles and return after a mission, the Harop is self-destructing, making them a more expensive option.

Developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries, the Harop UCAVs were bought by India two years ago under a deal expected to be worth over Rs 500 crore.

The UCAV cannot only hit enemy radars by locking on to their radio emissions, but also has an electro-optical sensor that allows the remote operator to select static or moving targets in a battlefield.

Harop, with a 23-kg warhead, is 2.5 metre long with a 3-metre wingspan and has a six-hour endurance.

The DRDO is also working on some projects to develop indigenous combat UAVs but they are at an advanced stage.

Indian Air Force to induct first killer drones - The Economic Times

Kudos to Indo-Israel friendship But we need predator type drones !!

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

 

[veekysingh]

old news

 

[OrionHunter]

Harop is not a drone or UCAV in the classical sense. It is a loitering munition (LM) system.

Here's how it operates. It's a missile itself. In other words, a maneuverable remote controlled missile with hover, SEAD and recce capabilities. It would be cost effective only against very high value targets. The Indian Air Force will be inducting 10 Harop systems purchased for US $100 Million. This includes munition units, transportable launchers and a mission control shelter, which provides real-time access to control the Harop by a man-in-the-loop.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

How many are we getting?

 

[joekrish]

Not very cost effective I guess?

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Not very cost effective I guess?

Only against a high value target..I fail to see how it can be utilised in a LIC.

 

[arp2041]

Not very cost effective I guess?

Can't say that, in a conflict it can destroy enemy radar installations or any other high value targets, if it gets successful in whatever mission assigned to it, than i guess it will be a price less weapon system for IAF.

 

[danger007]

Can't say that, in a conflict it can destroy enemy radar installations or any other high value targets, if it gets successful in whatever mission assigned to it, than i guess it will be a price less weapon system for IAF.

What about awacs????

 

[KRAIT]

We need mini drones that can fire bullets. Or those small drones in swarm with explosives.

Imagine a situation like Mumbai and you send a swarm of mini drowns, those with 4 rotators with a camera on top. Suicide Swarm.

 

[karan21]

AAhh another Indian ariforce foreign purchase. Unbelieveable we are unable to make even a 23 kg drone. This is pathetic and shamefull at most. When Chinese make fun of us they are right.

 

[Sergi]

I read somewhere Apache can control and launch mini drones. It would be deadly combination if this Drone can be launched and controlled from Apache
I still preffer PREDIATOR like UCAVs. They can be used in all senarios like Insergency or war. Hope DRDO make it in near future

 

[Abingdonboy]

The Harop is a cool bit of kit but it only useful is bought in large numbers- 10 systems means at most 10 induvidual targets taken out. India really needs a Reaper-like UAV which has the ability to target and destory multiple targets and then return to base,re-arm and refuel and go back out to reak more havoc. For me the Harop's price makes its utility almost 0 until such a system costs under $500,000 USD a pecie (instead of being close to $7-8 MN a unit currently) then it procludes orders above a small number and that means usage of the system in a widespread fashion during conflict. My guess is the IAF may buy quite a few more (above 10) but the real point of this purchase was to build up a core of UCAV operators and technicians and get the procedures and doctinre for UCAV employment ready and nailed before the induction of the indigenous UCAV systems in coming yerars.

 

[arp2041]

The Harop is a cool bit of kit but it only useful is bought in large numbers- 10 systems means at most 10 induvidual targets taken out. India really needs a Reaper-like UAV which has the ability to target and destory multiple targets and then return to base,re-arm and refuel and go back out to reak more havoc. For me the Harop's price makes its utility almost 0 until such a system costs under $500,000 USD a pecie (instead of being close to $7-8 MN a unit currently) then it procludes orders above a small number and that means usage of the system in a widespread fashion during conflict. My guess is the IAF may buy quite a few more (above 10) but the real point of this purchase was to build up a core of UCAV operators and technicians and get the procedures and doctinre for UCAV employment ready and nailed before the induction of the indigenous UCAV systems in coming yerars.

I think IAF hands were tied as far as this deal is concerned, they surely would had gone for predator drones, but US will not give them to any country, so IAF just went for next best option until DRDO project AURA fructifies.

 

[surya kiran]

The Harop is a cool bit of kit but it only useful is bought in large numbers- 10 systems means at most 10 induvidual targets taken out. India really needs a Reaper-like UAV which has the ability to target and destory multiple targets and then return to base,re-arm and refuel and go back out to reak more havoc. For me the Harop's price makes its utility almost 0 until such a system costs under $500,000 USD a pecie (instead of being close to $7-8 MN a unit currently) then it procludes orders above a small number and that means usage of the system in a widespread fashion during conflict. My guess is the IAF may buy quite a few more (above 10) but the real point of this purchase was to build up a core of UCAV operators and technicians and get the procedures and doctinre for UCAV employment ready and nailed before the induction of the indigenous UCAV systems in coming yerars.

I have a point of view on this and it is open to debate.

The Harop is mainly defined for a SEAD role. Which means, it combines, detection, targeting and destroy all in one. During a SEAD operation to cover this you would need atleast 3 elements besides the control centre.

1. Detection - You would need aircraft which can operate in that radar dense environment, be cheap cause it could go down.
2. Jamming - You would need aircraft to jam it so that the actual attack can be carried out with aircraft.
3. Destroy - ARM capable fighters being put in the line of fire.

Or if you have a ground team in place, lasing the target for the LGB to do its work. Besides this also remember the missile being used to hit the radar site will need to be smart. Cause radar officers 'will' switch off their radars which is why the 6 hr loiter makes sense.

Now when you look at the above, a single unit which has zero casualty cost, but the ability to go after the target 'on opportunity' makes sense.

A Predator is, if I am not mistaken defined for the SEAD role. They carry hellfiresThats why they have the Longbows being used in SEAD role by the US armed forces. Also, UCAVs like the Predator cannot carry ARM missiles for the simple reason that they are too heavy.

What's your opinion?

I read somewhere Apache can control and launch mini drones. It would be deadly combination if this Drone can be launched and controlled from Apache
I still preffer PREDIATOR like UCAVs. They can be used in all senarios like Insergency or war. Hope DRDO make it in near future

The block III version of the AH-64 Longbow can. 12 of the 22 we procure will have the Longbow. let's hope they are block IIIs.