The government has begun the process for procurement of a compact unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for the elite Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force that can operate in extreme environmental conditions, and at altitudes up to 16,400 feet above mean sea level.
The defence ministry recently issued a request for information (RFI) for procuring a 'Micro UAV' system for the IAF's Garud Special Forces with a "minimum 60 per cent indigenous content".
According to officials, the planned system, which is envisaged to have an increased range and endurance level compared to the existing system, is intended for "high-altitude surveillance" and operational support across a range of terrain and climatic conditions.
Envisaged as a compact, lightweight, man-portable platform designed for Special Forces' operations, the proposed system should also be able to support day and night surveillance, target acquisition and real-time situational awareness, the officials said.
Garud Special Forces presently has a "similar system", and the new one will be an upgraded system, and an "Indian-made one with latest specifications," a senior official, aware of the project, said, reports news agency PTI.
"The system is required to operate in extreme environmental conditions, including temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius to plus 50 degrees Celsius, and at altitudes up to 16,400 feet above mean sea level," the official has been quoted as saying.
Another official, aware of the matter, shared some of its key performance parameters as planned. The system should have a minimum mission range of 15 km, endurance of at least 60 minutes, and the ability to "operate with a two-person crew".
The system should be able to function effectively in GPS-denied environments and be adaptable to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), officials said. It must also support autonomous vertical take-off and landing, incorporate secure encrypted communication links, and offer multiple operational modes, including autonomous, manual, and target-tracking functions.
The proposed system will include multiple integrated components such as aerial vehicles, ground control systems, remote video terminals, electro-optical or infra-red payloads, power systems, field repair kits and radio frequency data links, the officials noted.
The project is aimed at enhancing the operational capability of the IAF and boosting indigenous defence manufacturing, while reducing dependence on foreign systems.
The RFI prioritises Indian vendors, including start-ups and MSMEs, and encourages development of domestic industrial capability, including lifecycle support and obsolescence management within India, according to an official.
