The Indian Army is interested in purchasing advanced UAS

The Indian army is interested in purchasing advanced UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to strengthen its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and improve the effectiveness of its military operations.

More specifically, the army is waiting for vendors to respond to a Request For Information (RFI) for 60 short-range UAVs that can operate for 10 hours at 15.000 feet, and 120 HALE (High Altitude and Long Endurance) UAVs that can operate for 30 hours at 60.000 feet.

The Indian army’s existing unmanned systems’ fleet comprises Heron MALE (Medium Altitude and Long Endurance) UAVs, and the smaller Searcher Mark II tactical UAVs, both built by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries).

India to Bolster UAV Fleet

India plans to spend more than US $2 billion in the next five years to boost its UAV fleet, including mini UAVs, and sharpen its border surveillance, intelligence and communications capabilities. More than a dozen domestic private-sector players are eyeing the mini-UAV market, while the DRDO concentrates on developing HALE, MALE and combat UAVs.

The Army this month floated a tender to acquire 49 UAVs to be used for real-time ISR. The tender has been sent to private Indian companies Idea Forge, Dynamatrics, Hi-tech Robotics, Ufcon, Omnipresent Technologies, Datapattern, Tata Advance Systems and state-owned Bharat Electronics. The mini UAVs will be used for counterinsurgency operations in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, bordering Pakistan. The UAV will have an endurance of 30 to 90 minutes carrying a camera, and be able to perform auto tracking of targets. The mini UAVs will gather intelligence and carry out reconnaissance along the Line of Control with Pakistan and the India-China border, an Indian Army official said. Mini UAVs are effective electronic eyes in the skies against border infiltrations, which have increased recently, the official added.

The Army is employing UAVs as a communication constellation and has put them to use in rescue operations, as observation posts and for medical evacuation, said Mahindra Singh, a retired Army major general. The Army and Air Force have an immediate requirement for more than 700 mini UAVs. The Army plans to have about 1,600 mini UAVs by 2017 for use by the infantry and mechanized infantry, the Army official said, adding that these vehicles would be employed to enhance the Army’s situational awareness in the border regions. The mini UAVs will be integrated into a system that will include assets such as artillery, locating radar, bigger UAVs, aerostat radars, and airborne early warning and control aircraft, which could be used as a force-multiplier, the official said. 

The Global UAV Market 2013-2023 - A US$114.7 Billion Opportunity

 

UAVs have proved to be exceedingly useful during peacekeeping missions and the ongoing global war on terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan, finding applications across ISR and combat roles. Furthermore, enhanced capabilities in areas such as endurance, data processing, and communications have broadened ISR UAV use in both defense and intelligence roles. It is anticipated that 4,000 different unmanned aircraft platforms are in circulation on the global market.

 

In light of their enhanced endurance and lower maintenance costs, solar-powered UAVs are emerging as the latest revelation in the market, attracting investment from defense ministries across the globe. High endurance of solar-powered UAVs enhances their ability to provide real-time, high-quality surveillance data for large geographical areas, and for longer periods. HALE UAVs offer a low-cost consistent surveillance capability and are capable of producing and storing solar energy in their fuel cells which can then be used for night flying.

 

Almost all major countries now have their UCAV programs in place, some in isolation, and others in collaboration. Leading the way, in May 2013, the U.S. Navy underwent flight trials for the X-47B, a giant leap in the UCAV industry, as it was for the first time that an unmanned aircraft took off from an aircraft carrier. Though it is not due to go into production, the research and development is expected to spawn operational variants in the near future.

Spanning over 229 pages, 84 tables and 101 figures, “The Global UAV Market 2013-2023” report presents an in-depth assessment of the global UAV market till 2023.

In addition to covering the market size & drivers, industry trends, challenges, swot analysis, country analysis, major uav programs, competitive landscape and strategic insights the report also presents comprehensive forecasts for the market till 2023. The report covers 20 key industry players namely AAI Corporation, Aeronautics Ltd., AeroVironment, Alenia Aermacchi, BAE Systems, BlueBird Aero Systems, Boeing, Cassidian, Dassault Aviation SA, Denel Dynamics, Elbit Systems Ltd., EMT Ingenieurgesellschaft, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI),  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Northrop Grumman Corporation, Sagem, Selex ES, Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Saab.

 

For more information, visit: http://www.marketresearchreports.com/strategic-defence-intelligence/global-uav-market-2013-2023