UAVs as Game Changers and Force Multipliers

Terrorist hideouts in North Waziristan region of Pakistan running along the borders of trouble-torn Afghanistan continues to be target of attack by the remotely controlled drones launched by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of USA. The no-holds-barred attack by drones, which has stirred widespread public protest in Pakistan, is considered a part of the US war on terror seeking to destroy Taliban and Al Qaida strongholds in the mountainous Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA )in north-western Pakistan. The MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones used by the Americans and capable of firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on enemy targets seems to have become the nemesis of terrorist groups in the tribal pockets of Pakistan. The US defence forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are using Class-1 T Hawk UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) for surveillance and route clearance, flying ahead of convoys or ground units to detect improvised explosive devices and in a force protection role to remove elements of surprise. UAVs, both armed and unarmed, seems to have become a guiding force of US operations in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Indeed, the efficacy of drones demonstrated by the US war against terrorism is all set to change the contours of war and the dynamics of battlefield as never envisaged before. Drones have clearly proven that for hitting targets and destroying enemy posts, there is no need for pressing into service well armed defence forces supported by air cover. By falling back on satellite data and ground truth, a remotely piloted drone can hit a chosen target with a high degree of precision. This is not to suggest that such operations are devoid of collateral damages. But then in comparison to a conventional operation involving armed forces, drones have the potential to minimise collateral damages. By using drones not only the cost of hitting targets can be minimised to a substantial extent but also injury and loss of life normally sustained by the combatants is obviated in toto.

Against this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that the Indian army too is planning to acquire 500 micro- and mini-UAVs with an endurance of 30 minutes and the ability to be operated by two soldiers. The army released an RFP (Request for Proposal) for 500 micro UAVs in early 2011. Incidentally, the Indian army has subjected the T-Hawk Micro air vehicle to performance trials. The T-Hawk was also put on trial at the Kanker (Chattisagarh)-based Counter Terrorism Jungle Warfare College. This UAV has the capability to zero in on explosive devices planted 20 inches deep into the ground and ideally suited for operations in Naxalite infested areas. Para-military forces in India are finding an increasing need to fall back on UAVs for tackling insurgents roaming inside the deep forests and extremist elements like the Maoists against whom intelligence gathering has become very difficult because of the nature of the terrain they inhabit. Since low intensity conflicts are increasingly being used as a means to challenge the security forces by rebel groups who cannot face an open war, the micro-UAVs are now being used as an integral part of the force deployment for counter terrorism operations.

Mini- and micro-UAVs are now gaining in prominence as an invaluable asset of soldiers on reconnaissance mission. In particular, such UAVs are of immense use in high altitude regions. As it is, Indian armed forces still lack the high end micro-UAVs. Efforts are on to fill this gap.

The Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the Medium Altitude Long Endurance(MALE) UAV named Rustom which has logged two successful test flights. Rustom, claimed to be similar in capability to the Israeli Heron, has an endurance of 14 hours and altitude ceiling of 8,000 metres. There is also a plan to develop an high altitude long endurance UAV system. ADE is also studying the technological options for an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)though no project has yet been firmed up.

On another front,Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Department of Science and Technology(DST) has initiated a national programme for Micro Air Vehicles(NP-MICAV) to design and develop a range of micro-UAVs to meet both the civilian and military needs. A sum of Rs. 1000 million has already been allocated by the Ministry of Defence for the development of micro-UAVs in two distinct phases. During the first phase of three years 40 per cent of the sanctioned grant will be spent on product development and the rest of the money will focus on high end futuristic technology in the next two years. DRDO plans to tap over 80 projects in the emerging micro-UAV technology involving a host of agencies all over the country.

The National Design and Research Forum (NDRF) of the Institution of Engineers India, is expected to play a key role in the development of a series of micro-UAVs under this national programme for various mission requirements. These versatile micro air vehicles can be utilised by para-military forces, anti-insurgency combat groups battling naxalite guerrillas in their jungle hideouts. According to K. Ramachandra, the CEO of NP-MICAV for NDRF, the research and development in this niche area has picked up the world over and India is very much in the reckoning to be among the best in the business. “It is a huge task for all agencies involved as the challenges grow with the size becoming small and technologies becoming complex,” notes Dr. Prahlada, Chief Controller of Research and Development (Aeronautics) at DRDO. He says that the thrust would be on incorporating the latest genre technologies for the micro-UAVs being evolved as part of NI-MICAV.

Indian designers of UAVs are also looking at investing on harnessing the potential manpower savings of UAVs such as increasing the level of vehicle autonomy. There is a growing realisation that UAVs are fast maturing from short term fixes for urgent problems to solutions for long term systemic uses. According to Lt. Gen V. J. Sundaram, Advisor (Micro and Nano Systems), NDRF, sensors, bio-mimetics, brain machine interface, vision based control, navigation and guidance, simulation, swarm operations, cooperation with surface submerged unmanned vehicles have been identified as some of the critical technological areas for developing state of the art micro air vehicles with futuristic design features.

Radhakrishna Rao is a freelancer specializing in defence and aerospace issues

(The views expressed in the article are that of the author and do not represent the views of the editorial committee or the centre for land warfare studies).