India's surveillance specialist Archer-NG UAVs to become tank and jet killer: Report

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will upgrade the Archer-NG (Next Generation) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle into a multi-role combat platform, a report said.

Archer-NG UAVs were originally developed as medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones to be deployed on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Its development phase focuses on integrating cutting-edge technology to ensure they become state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones. However, a fresh report claims that they will soon become attack drones capable of taking on aerial and ground targets alike.

Archer-NGs are expected to remain airborne for around 18 hours at altitudes of over 30,000 feet, a news report said. This makes them capable of carrying out long-duration missions covering large areas. They are reportedly designed to operate and withstand challenging operational environments.

To meet the ISR requirements, their sensor configurations reportedly include high-resolution electro-optical and infrared systems along with a synthetic aperture radar. Using these systems, the UAVs will be able to deliver real-time battlefield awareness, the report said.

However, DRDO will shift focus to arming Archer-NGs with weapons that can make them a precious asset in terms of India's attacking needs. The possibility of integrating artificial intelligence-enabled target recognition into these UAVs will reportedly be explored so that they can be used for coordinated missions alongside the IAF's manned fighter aircraft. This technology could make the UAV a lethal weapon in future battlefields where drone swarms and network-centric warfare will have a greater role.

They will also be able to carry precision-guided munitions, anti-tank guided missiles, and air-to-air weapons, the report said, adding that they will be able to contribute to counter-UAV operations as well.