DRONES AND COUNTER DRONES: CAN INDIA BE FOUNDRY TO THE WORLD?
The recent advent of drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have brought in one of the newest and most important disruptions not only in the war fighting domain but also in the civilian domains. Being a multi use platform including the wide ranging defence applications, the platform draws attention of one and all. Miniature versions/ swarm drones have brought in a new dimension of war fighting and have forced the countries to re-think on their huge investments on costly and resource prohibitive procurements. A new realisation of preserving human lives has become a good spin off.
Being a growing field and already under effective evaluation during Russia-Ukraine war besides killing of Zawahiri in his own house when he apparently came out in the balcony, the drones/ UAVs have taken their credibility to a new level all together. There is no country in the world which is not interested in acquiring such assets specially when their cost is fractional to the conventional platforms.
The platform evokes keener interests as it has huge applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce sector but not only limited to these sectors. These have wide ranging applications in almost every facet of our functioning.
When we consider applications in the defence sector, thinking of counter drones becomes an instant reaction as one would always like to neutralise the adversaries drones in the battle field effectively whether by soft kill or hard kill.
India needs to look at its industries strategically to grow to its real stature. While doing so, it must look into emerging fields, invest and be a lead producer/manufacturer in the world to meet its own needs and the needs of all the friendly countries.
A round table discussion was held in India on 09 Sept 22 under the aegis of MRO digest forum to evolve the recommendations with respect to broad policy on drones and counter drones in the defence sector. The following recommendations are made:
Strategic Profile: Due to the ranges involved, these will be mandatorily needing satellite links for data communication both for their navigation, targeting ( whether in the form of surveillance or ammunition delivery) and retrieval. The technology needed to be obtained from friendly countries like USA/Israel and the equipment be co-produced in India.The co-produced equipment be used to meet the national needs as well as be exported to other friendly countries as well. The utilisation of air to air refuelling and/or solar powering be planned for the long ranges without enhancing the signature of the platform. Necessary technological edge needs to be created to ensure that these are not jammed by the adversary. Back up based employment philosophy could be planned to ensure that the mission always succeeds especially if the adversary succeeds in hard kill of the first platform despite smaller size of the platform. The platform should be capable of flying in all the terrain conditions leaving minimal of its signature.
Operational Profile: This segment will require satellite based communication but some missions could be undertaken without that as well. Majority will need satellite links. These platforms will also have majority of features as obtaining for strategic profile albeit with reduced ranges. Reduced logistics support will be needed. The drones/UAVs for this profile should be jointly produced by DRDO as well as the private sector. In addition to meeting the national needs, these must be exported to the friendly countries including provision of the satellite links.
Tactical Profile. All units/formations/para military forces need the drones/UAVs for the effective surveillance of areas of their influence and responsibility, be it during border guarding phase, during actual conflict or CI/CT operations. These should cost less and should be easily replaceable. The responsibility should be with the private sector not only for the meeting India’s needs but also to export to friendly nations. Technology infusion should be done by investing adequate funds in the R&D field.
The above are some facets covered during the deliberations. Development of roads and tracks in the forward border areas combined with the use of drones must result in zero usage of Animal transport and porters to ensure that the sustenance of the troops is economical and the nation can use these resources for capability building. A renewed focus and mission mode approach can re-energise this sector and put India on the world map at a high pedestal. This is the way for India to become world foundry for the Drones.
Kevin Desouza
Thank you Sir for bringing up a very relevant subject. FICCI and EY also came up with a detailed report on making India a global drone manufacturing hub. I found many many queries coming up when I saw their overly optimistic report.
There are many things that we can say India should do. But unless we analyse it in sufficient depth and detail and through 360 angles covering most importantly, the economics, available resources and competition in the world, we will only be building pipe dreams. The fact is that India woke up after 65 other countries had already filed patents over six-seven years for counter UAS! Our forces too seem to have realised their importance only after the Azerbaijan-Armenian war. It is only the later editions of TPCR of 2018 where it appears to have been listed. China is the worlds drone manufacturing hub. And as can be seen in the cell phone and network industry, Indian private companies simply have not been able to compete due to various reasons. The tech transfer from the West or Israel is workable. But there too, trust levels in Indian companies is extremely low. So what is the way forward?