In a bid to boost its ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to partner with domestic industry players to build an unmanned ‘Medium Altitude Heavy Lift Airship’ for carrying out long-endurance surveillance missions.
According to a report in The Tribune, the IAF has invited bids from domestic defence companies to design, develop and manufacture such a platform in the country.
The plan, according to the report, is to build the airship that can operate at an altitude of 30,000 feet and can carry payloads up to 5,000 kg.
The airship is likely to be hydrogen-powered due to the chemical's easy availability, non-toxicity, and lighter-than-air properties. The platform is expected to work similar to airborne radar and electronic warfare platforms, which have communication capabilities—either line-of-sight communication of at least 250 km or the ability to operate via satellite links.
The ability to carry payloads can turn this airship into a launch platform for both missiles and drones. The platform should also have the ability to have autonomous launch and recovery from prepared and unprepared surfaces.
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The report further said the IAF is exploring the possibility of a hybrid propulsion system, which combines hydrogen fuel with solar power or fuel cells to increase the endurance.
The force, which will shortlist multiple bidders for the project, will also allow foreign collaboration. However, the project should have at least 50 per cent indigenous content, in line with the government's push to increasingly achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The induction of such a platform would be a force-multiplier for the IAF as it would help improve the deterrence posture through constant monitoring of contested borders and warn against incursions or swarm threats.