India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
As
aerial
supremacy
increasingly
defines
military
strength,
drones
have
swiftly
become
critical
game-changers,
reshaping
the
very
nature
of
modern
warfare.
Demonstrating
their
decisive
role
in
recent
conflicts
such
as
the
Armenia-Azerbaijan
war
and
the
Ukraine-Russia
conflict,
unmanned
aerial
vehicles
(UAVs)
now
form
the
backbone
of
strategic
dominance.
Recognising
the
evolving
security
landscape
and
advanced
drone
capabilities
of
Pakistan
and
China,
the
Indian
Army
is
proactively
enhancing
its
UAV
and
RPAS
(Remotely
Piloted
Aircraft
Systems)
fleet
to
bridge
any
gaps.
Islamabad
and
Beijing
possess
advanced
drone
technologies.
Pakistan
employs
armed
UAVs
like
the
Burraq,
developed
with
Chinese
support,
primarily
for
surveillance
along
the
Line
of
Control
(LoC)
in
Kashmir.
Its
fleet
also
includes
advanced
Chinese
drones
such
as
the
Wing
Loong
series.
With
its
extensive
fleet,
China
deploys
UAVs
like
Wing
Loong
II,
CH-5,
and
the
stealthy
GJ-11
along
the
Line
of
Actual
Control
(LAC),
particularly
in
challenging
high-altitude
areas
such
as
Ladakh,
leveraging
their
operational
capabilities.
image
by
DALLE
for
representational
purposes)
The
Indian
Army,
responding
decisively,
has
prioritised
indigenous
innovation,
strategic
acquisitions,
and
collaboration
with
the
private
sector
to
boost
its
drone
capabilities
significantly.
Indigenous
UAV
projects
like
the
Rustom-2,
a
Medium
Altitude
Long
Endurance
(MALE)
drone
capable
of
intelligence,
surveillance,
and
reconnaissance
(ISR),
are
progressing.
In
2023,
Rustom-2
reached
a
milestone
altitude
of
27,000
feet
with
18-hour
endurance,
indicating
significant
development
towards
operational
deployment.
Additionally,
advancements
are
being
made
in
the
Archer-NG,
an
armed
Medium
Altitude
Long
Endurance
(MALE)
UAV
designed
for
precision
strikes
in
line
with
the
Army’s
objective
to
enhance
its
offensive
drone
capabilities.
Swarm
drone
technology
is
another
critical
advancement.
Successful
demonstrations
of
coordinated
operations
involving
100
drones
in
2023
underline
India’s
growing
proficiency
in
large-scale
surveillance
and
defence
penetration
strategies.
India
has
strategically
enhanced
its
drone
capabilities
through
recent
acquisitions.
The
Indian
Army
currently
operates
UAVs
in
the
MALE
category,
such
as
the
Israeli-made
Heron
and
Searcher
drones,
primarily
used
for
intelligence,
surveillance,
and
reconnaissance
missions
(ISR).
These
platforms
have
been
integral
in
monitoring
India’s
borders
and
supporting
counter-terrorism
operations.
Additionally,
India
has
finalised
procurement
of
MQ-9B
drones
from
the
United
States,
including
the
Sky
Guardian
variant
specifically
intended
for
the
Indian
Army.
Current
plans
for
UAV
upgrades
include
enhancing
range
beyond
1,000
km
for
deep
surveillance
and
long-range
reconnaissance,
increasing
endurance
to
over
24
hours
for
continuous
monitoring,
achieving
altitudes
above
30,000
feet
to
evade
detection,
and
introducing
weaponised
drones
like
the
MQ-9B
for
precision
strikes
against
enemy
targets.
Private
sector
collaboration
under
the
‘Make
in
India’
initiative
is
another
cornerstone
of
India’s
drone
strategy.
Companies
like
ideaForge,
with
over
550,000
successful
UAV
flights
and
70%
indigenous
components,
Asteria
Aerospace,
specialising
in
security
and
surveillance
UAV
solutions,
and
Garuda
Aerospace,
known
for
diverse
drone
applications
from
agriculture
to
disaster
management,
highlight
a
robust,
collaborative
defence
ecosystem.
Given
India’s
diverse
geographic
and
operational
challenges-from
Himalayan
altitudes
to
vast
desert
areas-versatile
UAVs
capable
of
high-altitude
surveillance,
long
endurance,
and
advanced
sensors
are
crucial.
Integrating
artificial
intelligence
(AI)
to
enable
autonomous
drone
operations
is
another
strategic
focus,
significantly
enhancing
operational
efficiency
and
effectiveness.
Globally,
UAVs
have
demonstrated
their
pivotal
roles,
from
the
US
use
of
MQ-9
Reapers
in
anti-terror
operations
to
Turkey’s
Bayraktar
TB2
drones
reshaping
battlefield
outcomes
in
Libya
and
Syria.
Recognising
these
international
benchmarks,
India
is
committed
to
building
comparable
capabilities
to
ensure
national
security
and
strategic
autonomy.
India’s
proactive
and
integrated
approach-combining
indigenous
UAV
developments
like
Rustom-2
and
Archer-NG,
strategic
international
acquisitions
such
as
the
MQ-9Bs,
and
active
private
sector
participation-positions
the
Indian
Army
firmly
against
future
security
threats.
Continued
investment
and
innovation
in
UAV
technology
will
ensure
India’s
readiness
and
operational
superiority,
safeguarding
national
interests
amid
the
ever-evolving
dynamics
of
modern
warfare.
(Ashu
Maan
is
an
Associate
Fellow
at
the
Centre
for
Land
Warfare
Studies.
He
is
currently
pursuing
his
PhD
from
Amity
University,
Noida,
in
Defence
and
Strategic
Studies.)
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