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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) - Indian Perspective - Brahmand.com
The UAV is an aerial vehicle with no pilot to man controls. They can be remotely controlled by personnel on ground or by pre programmed flight plans. Of late the term UAV has been changed to UAS which is an acronym for Unmanned Aircraft System. This has been changed to amplify the fact that apart from aerial vehicle this complex system includes ground station and other components. Militarily these systems are gaining tremendous importance. The earliest attempt to use these vehicles was aerial targets in 1915. The first operational usage began in 1959 when the American Air Force officers commenced planning for unmanned flights to avoid losing trained pilots over hostile territory. This plan gained further momentum when Gary Powers piloting a U-2 aircraft was shot down by the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1960. This propelled a classified UAV programme to be started under the code name Red Wagon. The UAVs were used in August 1964 in clashes with the Vietnamese Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thereafter the United States Air Force (USAF) 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing had flown more than 3000 sorties during the Vietnam War. The initial generation of UAVs were primarily used for surveillance. With increased operational requirements they were armed and they became known as Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). Broadly military UAVs are used for surveillance, direction of artillery fire, gathering ELINT information, lasing targets for fighter aircrafts and Post strike Damage Assessment (PSDA).
Classification of UAVs
The classification of UAVs in the US Armed Forces follows a tier system. There are separate tiers for the US Air Force, Marine Corps and the US Army. The United States Air Force tier commences with the Small/Micro UAV filled by the Batmav (Wasp Block III). Tier I comprises of low altitude long endurance represented by the Gnat 750. Tier II consists of Medium Altitude, long endurance (MALE) which currently has MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Tier II + has High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) UAV. These UAVs have an altitude ceiling of 60 to 65,000 ft, airspeed of 560 Km per hour, radius of 6,000 km and an endurance of 48 hours. The role for this type of UAV is currently filled by the RQ-4 Global Hawk. Tier III is a high altitude, long endurance low observable UAV. The parameters are similar to the Tier II+ aircraft. RQ-170 Sentinel is in this class of UAVs. The characteristics of the Marine Corps tiers are similar except for the specific UAV. With regard to the Micro UAV, Wasp III fills the role. Tier I filled by RQ - 11B Raven B. Tier II consists of Scan Eagle and RQ-2 Pioneer. Tier III Pioneer and Shadow. The US Army which has also inducted UAVs follows a similar pattern to that of the US Marines.
India's Acqusition of UAVs
The Indian Armed Forces have been operating UAVs for over a decade, in our case the Indian Army were the pioneers followed by the Air Force and subsequently the Indian Navy. At the outset DRDO was tasked to produce a Catapult launched UAV which was developed by Aeronautical Developmental Establishment Bangalore and improved to meet user requirements. Most of the UAVs of the Indian Armed Forces were procured from IAI Malat, whose UAVs were in service with numerous Armies. The Indian Army initially obtained the Searcher Mark I, followed by the Searcher Mark II which could operate at an altitude ceiling of 15,000 ft and finally we acquired the Heron which could operate at an altitude ceiling of 30,000ft. The Indian Air Force immediately followed the Army and acquired the Searcher Mark I followed by Searcher Mark II and acquired the Heron UAVs prior to the Indian Army. The Indian Navy also acquired the Heron UAVs which suited its long range off shore requirement. Reports indicate that the Indian Air Force has of late acquired the Harop which is a UCAV.
The function of a UAV is determined by its payload. The payload is directly related to the task. To undertake surveillance there would be the necessity of carrying a Charged Couple Device with Multi Optronic Software payload. For at which entails lasing, the bird would be tasked to carry a Laser designator. Task which entail ELINT would necessitate carriage of ELINT payload. In the event of under taking an offensive task the payload would comprise of the guidance system with two suitably armed missiles. Accordingly the payload of a UAV determines the task the aerial vehicle is likely to perform.
Employment of our UAVs
UAVs are great force multipliers and there must be synergy between the three services to optimise their employment. They could be employed for multifarious tasks fruitfully. Presently our three services have limited numbers of these aerial vehicles and each service is looking towards its individual requirement. In as much as the Army is concerned the Herons are performing exceedingly well in surveillance missions in the high altitude regions as also providing critical information to manoeuvre elements in our Southern deserts. They would be providing the target inputs for our missiles and also provide PSDA on engagement of targets. The Herons have been able to fly in dual role and thereby fly at ranges of 400 km, yet in high altitude areas screening problems do occur. This can easily be overcome by providing Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to these UAVs which apart from overcoming the problem of screening would enhance the range of the UAV to 1,000 km. The Searcher Mark II is being used in the mountainous region as also in the plains and semi deserts. It is to the credit of our UAV pilots that they have optimised the aerial vehicle successfully under our conditions. They have provided excellent inputs about any intrusions on the Line of Control as also on issues pertaining to terrain which assist us in operational planning.
The issue which is of concern is the quality of pictures obtained while using the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) does not give us a clear indication of the object. Recent international improvements in SAR provide a clear image of the object. As most of the militants be it in the North or North East have their hide outs in areas of thick foliage, there is a need to obtain a high quality of SAR devices to generate good images which would lead us to militant camps with precision. The Searcher Mark I variety is a short range UAV which is being suitably used in the hilly regions and plains. The Nishant an indigenous product manufactured by DRDO which is launched from a vehicle and recovered by parachute is possibly under induction and would be utilised in the plains. All UAVs presently held by the Army are being controlled at the operational level and serve the needs at the higher level. There is a dire requirement of UAVs at the tactical level which needs to be provided to force multiply results at the ground level for undertaking missions with accurate intelligence. Further in our environment there is an immediate need to weaponise our aerial platforms so as to destroy targets. The UCAVs are operating in Afghanistan and causing accurate destruction of pin point targets. This has led to deaths of numerous top leaders of Al Qaida leaders, thereby reducing the potency of the establishment.
The Indian Air Force are equipped with Searcher Mark II, Herons and in the process of inducting the loitering missile Harop.The tasks visualised are Surveillance particularly of air fields, radars, air defence guns, field defences and mechanised columns, thereafter deception by using electronic payloads, destruction of selected targets by loitering missiles and PSDA. Searcher Mark II and Heron are similar to the systems held by the Indian Army while Harop is a loitering missile capable of seeking targets and destroying them with pin point accuracy. Harop is also described as a self destructive Killer drone. Harop can be used in high density conflict and counter insurgency with 1000 km range and six hours endurance. It can be launched against land based and sea based targets. The drone loiters over the target area and attacks the targets, over which it undergoes self destruction. The UCAV detects strong pulses from communication targets such as missiles, radars and hits at the source. It is possible to launch the Harop from ground, sea and air.
The Indian Navy presently has a squadron of Searcher Mark II and Heron. They are located at Kochi and Porbandar. Possibly two more squadrons are planned for the South East coast and Andaman islands. All these UAVs are land based and are controlled by the Command Headquarters. There is a requirement of ship based rotary UAVs which can function effectively with a carrier task force and provide intimate real time surveillance.
Planning for the Future
Our present holdings of UAV are extremely low and there is a requirement of catering for greater quantities to meet battle field requirements for the future. The versatility of the UAV has been demonstrated particularly in strikes against terrorist camps in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is serious thinking in the Royal Air Force that 30 percent of the present strength of fighter aircrafts be replaced by UCAVs. The United States Navy has already opted out of the fifth generation F-35, Joint Strike Fighter programme and is planning to deploy the unmanned Northrop Grumman X 47-B Unmanned Combat Air System which was test flown at the Edwards Air Force base California recently. According to a Northop Grumman statement, the programme will demonstrate the first ever carrier launches and recoveries by an autonomous unmanned aircraft with a low observable platform. They would also undertake autonomous aerial refuelling after carrier integration. This indicates the direction we are heading with regard to UAVs and UCAVs. Further we have to note that China has already featured its Chang Hong-3 UCAV platforms in various defence exhibitions in recent years. Considering China's developments in this field, the day is not far when Pakistan will receive these Chinese built aerial systems.
The Indian Armed Forces have to judiciously examine their future requirements of UAV. In as much as the Army is concerned at the strategic and operational level there is a requirement for UCAVs and short range loitering missiles. The UCAVs could be formed on the Herons each of them mounted with two Fire and Forget missiles. Each divisional artillery brigade must have a battery of UCAVs comprising of eight aerial systems. Further each Corps must have a Loitering Missile Battery comprising of eight missiles with associated ground systems. At the tactical level there is a need for Mini UAV which would be hand launched have an endurance of two hours, range of 10 km and have a pay load which can provide good details over the area the vehicle operates. In the initial stages it would suffice if each infantry battalion, combat group and artillery regiment be provided with two systems each having two aerial vehicles. This would help in providing real time battlefield transparency, direction of own artillery fire and PSDA.
The Air Force must acquire additional UCAVs and develop a fighter UCAV. The Navy must look at Rotary UAVs and UCAVs. The future would also see the entry of directed energy weapons. Needless to say, they must be mounted on UAVs for effective usage.
While the requirements are clear, the moot point is what the road map for their procurement. The DRDO has developed Nishant and is presently developing Rustam, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. Any process undertaken must meet time lines, as inordinate delay would be operationally not acceptable. The Mini UAV is of simple technology and could be indigenously developed. Further this would meet the tactical requirement. The UCAV and the loitering missile are being produced by Israel who are setting up joint ventures with DRDO. It would be prudent if our inescapable requirements be got from the Original Equipment Manufacturer and subsequent requirements be delivered by Joint Ventures. The other development issues could be examined by the Services in conjunction with DRDO in a deliberate manner.
Conclusion
UAVs have played a crucial role during the Af Pak operations. A large portion of the Al Qaida and Taliban leadership have been killed in the recent raids by UCAVs. Our Armed Forces have inducted a limited number of these aerial vehicles and these are effective in our operational environment. There is a need to increase the quantity of this weapon system to enhance our surveillance, direction of on artillery fire, engagement of pin point targets and PSDA. Accordingly the Services in conjunction with DRDO must innovate methods to procure these systems expeditiously.
The UAV is an aerial vehicle with no pilot to man controls. They can be remotely controlled by personnel on ground or by pre programmed flight plans. Of late the term UAV has been changed to UAS which is an acronym for Unmanned Aircraft System. This has been changed to amplify the fact that apart from aerial vehicle this complex system includes ground station and other components. Militarily these systems are gaining tremendous importance. The earliest attempt to use these vehicles was aerial targets in 1915. The first operational usage began in 1959 when the American Air Force officers commenced planning for unmanned flights to avoid losing trained pilots over hostile territory. This plan gained further momentum when Gary Powers piloting a U-2 aircraft was shot down by the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1960. This propelled a classified UAV programme to be started under the code name Red Wagon. The UAVs were used in August 1964 in clashes with the Vietnamese Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thereafter the United States Air Force (USAF) 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing had flown more than 3000 sorties during the Vietnam War. The initial generation of UAVs were primarily used for surveillance. With increased operational requirements they were armed and they became known as Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). Broadly military UAVs are used for surveillance, direction of artillery fire, gathering ELINT information, lasing targets for fighter aircrafts and Post strike Damage Assessment (PSDA).
Classification of UAVs
The classification of UAVs in the US Armed Forces follows a tier system. There are separate tiers for the US Air Force, Marine Corps and the US Army. The United States Air Force tier commences with the Small/Micro UAV filled by the Batmav (Wasp Block III). Tier I comprises of low altitude long endurance represented by the Gnat 750. Tier II consists of Medium Altitude, long endurance (MALE) which currently has MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. Tier II + has High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) UAV. These UAVs have an altitude ceiling of 60 to 65,000 ft, airspeed of 560 Km per hour, radius of 6,000 km and an endurance of 48 hours. The role for this type of UAV is currently filled by the RQ-4 Global Hawk. Tier III is a high altitude, long endurance low observable UAV. The parameters are similar to the Tier II+ aircraft. RQ-170 Sentinel is in this class of UAVs. The characteristics of the Marine Corps tiers are similar except for the specific UAV. With regard to the Micro UAV, Wasp III fills the role. Tier I filled by RQ - 11B Raven B. Tier II consists of Scan Eagle and RQ-2 Pioneer. Tier III Pioneer and Shadow. The US Army which has also inducted UAVs follows a similar pattern to that of the US Marines.
India's Acqusition of UAVs
The Indian Armed Forces have been operating UAVs for over a decade, in our case the Indian Army were the pioneers followed by the Air Force and subsequently the Indian Navy. At the outset DRDO was tasked to produce a Catapult launched UAV which was developed by Aeronautical Developmental Establishment Bangalore and improved to meet user requirements. Most of the UAVs of the Indian Armed Forces were procured from IAI Malat, whose UAVs were in service with numerous Armies. The Indian Army initially obtained the Searcher Mark I, followed by the Searcher Mark II which could operate at an altitude ceiling of 15,000 ft and finally we acquired the Heron which could operate at an altitude ceiling of 30,000ft. The Indian Air Force immediately followed the Army and acquired the Searcher Mark I followed by Searcher Mark II and acquired the Heron UAVs prior to the Indian Army. The Indian Navy also acquired the Heron UAVs which suited its long range off shore requirement. Reports indicate that the Indian Air Force has of late acquired the Harop which is a UCAV.
The function of a UAV is determined by its payload. The payload is directly related to the task. To undertake surveillance there would be the necessity of carrying a Charged Couple Device with Multi Optronic Software payload. For at which entails lasing, the bird would be tasked to carry a Laser designator. Task which entail ELINT would necessitate carriage of ELINT payload. In the event of under taking an offensive task the payload would comprise of the guidance system with two suitably armed missiles. Accordingly the payload of a UAV determines the task the aerial vehicle is likely to perform.
Employment of our UAVs
UAVs are great force multipliers and there must be synergy between the three services to optimise their employment. They could be employed for multifarious tasks fruitfully. Presently our three services have limited numbers of these aerial vehicles and each service is looking towards its individual requirement. In as much as the Army is concerned the Herons are performing exceedingly well in surveillance missions in the high altitude regions as also providing critical information to manoeuvre elements in our Southern deserts. They would be providing the target inputs for our missiles and also provide PSDA on engagement of targets. The Herons have been able to fly in dual role and thereby fly at ranges of 400 km, yet in high altitude areas screening problems do occur. This can easily be overcome by providing Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to these UAVs which apart from overcoming the problem of screening would enhance the range of the UAV to 1,000 km. The Searcher Mark II is being used in the mountainous region as also in the plains and semi deserts. It is to the credit of our UAV pilots that they have optimised the aerial vehicle successfully under our conditions. They have provided excellent inputs about any intrusions on the Line of Control as also on issues pertaining to terrain which assist us in operational planning.
The issue which is of concern is the quality of pictures obtained while using the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) does not give us a clear indication of the object. Recent international improvements in SAR provide a clear image of the object. As most of the militants be it in the North or North East have their hide outs in areas of thick foliage, there is a need to obtain a high quality of SAR devices to generate good images which would lead us to militant camps with precision. The Searcher Mark I variety is a short range UAV which is being suitably used in the hilly regions and plains. The Nishant an indigenous product manufactured by DRDO which is launched from a vehicle and recovered by parachute is possibly under induction and would be utilised in the plains. All UAVs presently held by the Army are being controlled at the operational level and serve the needs at the higher level. There is a dire requirement of UAVs at the tactical level which needs to be provided to force multiply results at the ground level for undertaking missions with accurate intelligence. Further in our environment there is an immediate need to weaponise our aerial platforms so as to destroy targets. The UCAVs are operating in Afghanistan and causing accurate destruction of pin point targets. This has led to deaths of numerous top leaders of Al Qaida leaders, thereby reducing the potency of the establishment.
The Indian Air Force are equipped with Searcher Mark II, Herons and in the process of inducting the loitering missile Harop.The tasks visualised are Surveillance particularly of air fields, radars, air defence guns, field defences and mechanised columns, thereafter deception by using electronic payloads, destruction of selected targets by loitering missiles and PSDA. Searcher Mark II and Heron are similar to the systems held by the Indian Army while Harop is a loitering missile capable of seeking targets and destroying them with pin point accuracy. Harop is also described as a self destructive Killer drone. Harop can be used in high density conflict and counter insurgency with 1000 km range and six hours endurance. It can be launched against land based and sea based targets. The drone loiters over the target area and attacks the targets, over which it undergoes self destruction. The UCAV detects strong pulses from communication targets such as missiles, radars and hits at the source. It is possible to launch the Harop from ground, sea and air.
The Indian Navy presently has a squadron of Searcher Mark II and Heron. They are located at Kochi and Porbandar. Possibly two more squadrons are planned for the South East coast and Andaman islands. All these UAVs are land based and are controlled by the Command Headquarters. There is a requirement of ship based rotary UAVs which can function effectively with a carrier task force and provide intimate real time surveillance.
Planning for the Future
Our present holdings of UAV are extremely low and there is a requirement of catering for greater quantities to meet battle field requirements for the future. The versatility of the UAV has been demonstrated particularly in strikes against terrorist camps in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is serious thinking in the Royal Air Force that 30 percent of the present strength of fighter aircrafts be replaced by UCAVs. The United States Navy has already opted out of the fifth generation F-35, Joint Strike Fighter programme and is planning to deploy the unmanned Northrop Grumman X 47-B Unmanned Combat Air System which was test flown at the Edwards Air Force base California recently. According to a Northop Grumman statement, the programme will demonstrate the first ever carrier launches and recoveries by an autonomous unmanned aircraft with a low observable platform. They would also undertake autonomous aerial refuelling after carrier integration. This indicates the direction we are heading with regard to UAVs and UCAVs. Further we have to note that China has already featured its Chang Hong-3 UCAV platforms in various defence exhibitions in recent years. Considering China's developments in this field, the day is not far when Pakistan will receive these Chinese built aerial systems.
The Indian Armed Forces have to judiciously examine their future requirements of UAV. In as much as the Army is concerned at the strategic and operational level there is a requirement for UCAVs and short range loitering missiles. The UCAVs could be formed on the Herons each of them mounted with two Fire and Forget missiles. Each divisional artillery brigade must have a battery of UCAVs comprising of eight aerial systems. Further each Corps must have a Loitering Missile Battery comprising of eight missiles with associated ground systems. At the tactical level there is a need for Mini UAV which would be hand launched have an endurance of two hours, range of 10 km and have a pay load which can provide good details over the area the vehicle operates. In the initial stages it would suffice if each infantry battalion, combat group and artillery regiment be provided with two systems each having two aerial vehicles. This would help in providing real time battlefield transparency, direction of own artillery fire and PSDA.
The Air Force must acquire additional UCAVs and develop a fighter UCAV. The Navy must look at Rotary UAVs and UCAVs. The future would also see the entry of directed energy weapons. Needless to say, they must be mounted on UAVs for effective usage.
While the requirements are clear, the moot point is what the road map for their procurement. The DRDO has developed Nishant and is presently developing Rustam, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. Any process undertaken must meet time lines, as inordinate delay would be operationally not acceptable. The Mini UAV is of simple technology and could be indigenously developed. Further this would meet the tactical requirement. The UCAV and the loitering missile are being produced by Israel who are setting up joint ventures with DRDO. It would be prudent if our inescapable requirements be got from the Original Equipment Manufacturer and subsequent requirements be delivered by Joint Ventures. The other development issues could be examined by the Services in conjunction with DRDO in a deliberate manner.
Conclusion
UAVs have played a crucial role during the Af Pak operations. A large portion of the Al Qaida and Taliban leadership have been killed in the recent raids by UCAVs. Our Armed Forces have inducted a limited number of these aerial vehicles and these are effective in our operational environment. There is a need to increase the quantity of this weapon system to enhance our surveillance, direction of on artillery fire, engagement of pin point targets and PSDA. Accordingly the Services in conjunction with DRDO must innovate methods to procure these systems expeditiously.
