Introduction
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have contributed to the application of air power for decades; in a sense, the German V1 flying bomb of the 1940s was a UAV. Current definitions, however, discount ballistic vehicles, cruise missiles and artillery projectiles from the hugely expansive and speedily proliferate realm of UAVs increasingly being employed as handmaidens of state and non-state, military and terrorist, nations and sub-national entities. Some episodes of their use grab worldwide attention as was the case with the strike last September on two oil installations of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco. Not only was it spectacular because of the fact that it shook up Saudi oil and gas production but also on account of the dramatic effect on oil prices the world over. Technological advances have proved abundantly generous to UAV developments — rendering them inexpensive (compared to manned aerial platforms) options to use in a vast spectrum of battlefield roles as well as away from the battlefield. Electronic warfare, transportation and resupply, communication hubs, weather services, intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, combat support, target acquisition and designation, battle damage assessment, special operations and casualty evacuation are some of the unmanned, unarmed roles. However, increasing weaponisation of UAVs is throwing up new and emerging roles like aerial combat, suppression of enemy air defences, strikes, manned-unmanned teams, air strikes in the battlefield and beyond and kamikaze (loiter and destroy) type missions where the UAV itself carries an integral explosive load and can guide itself to impact with high value targets. Their size varies from a few millimetres to huge airliner sized flying platforms, and every nation wants to own UAVs (at least a hundred already own some measure of UAVs). Indian Air Force (IAF), the fourth largest in the world, sadly lacks an impressive repertoire of UAVs commensurate with its stature; it is no consolation that even its combat fighter strength (30 squadrons worth) is less than three fourths of its authorised strength of 42 (a figure long overdue for a reassessment). This article looks at IAF’s UAV capability and the prospects for its indigenisation.
Current State
Indian military interest in UAVs started in the 1990s and the Indian Army was the first to acquire a UAV — the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) Searcher Mark 1 in 1996; the IAF and Navy followed in 2000. IAF was possibly provided the impetus for UAV acquisition by l’affaire Kargil which threw up useful lessons about the need for inexpensive options for aerial recce and surveillance. The tremendous advantage offered by UAVs in mountainous terrain was obvious in terms of access, manoeuvrability and the fact that there was no pilot on board to be exposed to Pakistani brutality in case of a crash in enemy territory. The first IAF UAV Squadron was No 34 Squadron; it was formed on 27 November 2000 at Bhatinda but in December 2003, the UAV Squadrons were renumbered in the 3000 series. Currently, according to open source information, there are five squadrons and a Tech Flight. UAV holding of the IAF is a closely guarded secret and can be estimated to be around 100 as some unclassified sources give the total number of UAVs held by Indian military to be around 200 (as an aside according to The Jerusalem Post, the IAF operates close to 180 Israeli-made UAVs).
Israel, ever ready to enter into defence industrial relations with Indian government and Indian business entities, offered to India the Searcher Mark I and later Searcher Mark II. Reportedly, Searcher IIs are equipped with a standard day/night surveillance turret.
The next to enter service in 2003 was the Heron Mark 1 (Machatz-1), a Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV. Developed by the Malat (UAV) division of IAI; it can undertake flight operations of periods up to 52 hours with a ceiling of 35,000 ft but is normally used for 40 hour sorties at an altitude of 30,000 ft with a range of 3000 km. Typical payload is 250 kg with options of electro-optical and thermal surveillance equipment, SAR radars for ground surveillance, maritime patrol radars and sensors, signals and other intelligence collection antennas and equipment, laser designators, or radio relays. It was designed to carry out strategic reconnaissance and surveillance and India was destined to be the testing ground for this system as Israel offered it to India for its validation and trial stages. India was thus the first user of Heron with Israel Air Force and Turkish Defence Forces inducting it later. Reportedly Indian Herons are fitted with an Elta Systems radar and a stabilized Tamam surveillance and targeting turret. The IAF was expected to replace its entire inventory of Searcher I and II UAVs with the Heron but that did not happen and the Searcher II UAVs continue to be a service. Initially 12 were procured and in 2005, another 50 were reportedly ordered subsequently.
The IAF had been seeking Heron TP UAV (whose missile carrying capability renders it an Unarmed Combat Aerial Vehicle or UCAV) since 2012 and the procurement was approved in 2015. Israel was inhibited in sale of its Heron Mark II (or Heron-TP) system because of its voluntary moratorium on selling dual use strategic assets to parties not signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) (although Israel itself is not a MTCR signatory). Following India’s entry into MTCR in 2016, agreement was reached for purchase of 10 Heron TPs. MoD had approved the proposal in May 2018 for a deal that is estimated to be $400 million. This could be the first drone in the Indian arsenal to have a missile-strike ability hence can be used to hit at targets without sending a man on the mission on board a fighter jet. The Heron TP is larger than Heron Mark I and has a bigger, 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop to power it. Typical mission payload can be 1,000 kg (but the export version is limited to 450 kg payload) which could include air to surface missiles capable of detecting, tracking and striking targets deep in enemy territory. This payload can be carried to around 45,000 feet, and the UCAV has a range of 7,400 km and maximum flight time of over 36 hours in favorable conditions. The UCAV is well-suited for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and is capable of long-range limited strikes as well. The addition of armed UAVs to surveillance and intelligence gathering ones is a big capability boost for India as represents the ability to attack large terrorist camps or individual targets in hostile territory with minimal risk, substantial surprise, and no exposure of pilots. Critics contend that the Heron TP is not designed to operate in hostile airspace and would have limited utility and high vulnerability if sent on a mission across the borders of India with either China or Pakistan. The reason is its slow, turbo prop speed and lack of any stealth features. Even the small number (10) that it is being procured in is indicative of the fact that it may be just an interim stepping stone to a more capable, jet engine UAV with comparatively higher survivability and stealth features.
In 2009, the IAF had reportedly purchased 10 Harops from IAI under a $100m contract. Developed from the Harpy UAV, also developed by the IAI, this combat drone was unveiled in India at the 2009 Aero-India Show. Harop is a Loitering Munition (LM) system developed in Israel by the MBT missiles division of IAI and has the capabilities of a UAV and a lethal missile. This UCAV is also known as the Harpy-2 loitering munitions missile. Small enough to bypass enemy aircraft detection systems, the Harop – which has 23 kg of onboard explosives – searches, identifies and loiters above high-value military targets like surveillance bases and radar stations before attacking and destroying them. If a target is not engaged, the drone will return and land itself back at its base. Reportedly, IAF is in the process of acquiring 54 more Harops (approved by MoD in February 2019).
Besides the Israeli UAVs mentioned so far, the IAF operates a small number of indigenous Lakshya aerial targets produced by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). Lakshya is a cost effective re-usable high subsonic aerial target system powered by a gas turbine engine and launched either from land or ship. It carries two towed targets with tow lengths of 1.5 km each having radar, IR or visual signature augmentation and Miss Distance Indication Scoring System. IAF uses it for training of combat aircraft pilots in weapon engagement. The Lakshya was inducted into the IAF in 2000 and has no offensive role. Trials are on for some other UAVs under development by DRDO.
As can be seen, the bulk of IAF inventory is of Israeli origin. On account of high costs related to imports, the current IAF holding has been built up to only around 100 UAVs — a number that is insufficient for all of IAF’s assigned roles. Indigenous development has, like in most DRDO endeavours, failed to fulfill the UAV needs of the IAF.
Indigenous Endeavours
In the 1990s, India started developing indigenous UAVs with DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) being tasked to produce India’s first Nishant UAV based on Indian Army’s requirement for a platform for intelligence gathering over enemy territory. Nishant was a multi-mission Unmanned Aerial Vehicle launched using a Mobile Hydro Pneumatic Launcher with Day/Night capability used for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, target tracking & localization, and artillery fire correction. It had limited autonomous flight capabilities and was controlled from Ground Control Station. Nishant was recovered with an Aero Conical Parachute. The Nishant first flew in 1995 but, with four accidents involving Nishant in quick succession, its fate was sealed. DRDO then developed a MALE UAV RUSTOM-1design based on Rutan Long-EZ Homebuilt aircraft developed by American based Rutan Aircraft Factory. RUSTOM-1 was planned to be a technology demonstrator platform for more advanced and more capable UAVs. RUSTOM-1 is an all composite, 800 kg class Short Range Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (SR-RPAS) having capabilities of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition/ Tracking and Image Exploitation. RUSTOM-1 is the first Indian RPAS to have conventional take-off and landing capability. It has autonomous flight mode and Get-To-Home features. Rustom-1 has demonstrated flight endurance of 10 hrs, range of 200 km and an altitude of 20,000 ft. It has a rear mounted main wing and a front canard wing assembly. The power plant (Lycoming O-320) developing 150 hp is contained in the aft section of the fuselage and drives a two bladed propeller. It first flew in 2009 but the project did not evince much interest in the IAF due to the slow pace of development and an inadequate sensor package. RUSTOM-1 is unlikely to ever be a full-scale production UAV although the project is not yet officially deceased.
Another UAV that was reportedly said to belong to the Rustom family was the Rustom H (H for high altitude version). With an empty weight of a little over 1800 kg, its payload capacity was projected at 350 kg. Two NPO Saturn 36 MT turboprops developing 100 hp each were to drive three-bladed propellers. Its range was estimated to be 625 miles, operating altitude 35,000 ft and endurance around 24 hours. Not much has been heard about it in recent months.
RUSTOM-2, another UAV in the Rustom series, was renamed Tactical Advanced Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201 (TAPAS-BH-201, or TAPAS 201). It made its first flight in 2016, but had major technical problems. TAPAS BH 201 is projected to have an operating altitude of 30,000 ft, a service ceiling of 32,000 ft and the ability to take off from runways as high as 11,000 ft. The 2 ton MALE UAV will be able to carry a 350 kg payload of ELINT and COMINT suites, Synthetic Aperture Radar and other medium and long-range electro optical sensors to capture imagery to undertake Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions for the IAF. The Rustom models were initially to be fitted with Helina missiles, a DRDO product, but not much has been heard of that in recent months. A first research and development prototype made its maiden flight in November 2016 and testing of a higher powered engine commenced in February 2018, as user configuration flight trials started. Reportedly six TAPAS BH 201 prototypes have been produced. In September last year, a developmental prototype crashed soon after it took off from the DRDO’s Aeronautical Testing Range (ATR) located at Chitradurga, approximately 135nm (250km) northwest of Bengaluru. It will take a long time for TAPAS BH 201 to be a UAV of operational use to the IAF although DRDO has announced that it will be ready for operational use by 2020. Interestingly, while RUSTOM-1 is listed on the ADE site, Rustom H and RUSTOM-2 do not find any mention as they are not yet operational.
In 2014, DRDO had unveiled Panchi, a wheeled version of the Nishant but its future is as yet uncertain. Panchi is a variant of Nishant (launcher based tactical UAV) with capability of conventional take-off and landing. It is integrated with an all composite landing gear and has improved flight envelope and endurance. It has a stabilized payload platform to carry payloads like daylight camera, infrared camera and laser designator. It is powered with an indigenously developed rotary Wankel engine. Several flights have been conducted.
Another UAV under development by ADE is Abhyas, a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) which offers an aerial threat scenario for practice of weapon systems. It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, and has Radar Cross Section (RCS), Visual and IR augmentation systems required for weapon practice. Abhyas was successfully flight tested in May 2019.
Following on from Lakshya 1, Lakshya 2 is a target for weapon systems like radar guided and heat seeking Surface to Air Missiles and Air to Air Missiles. According to the ADE site, it has a scoring system capable of calculating the miss distance of weapons accurately, has an integrated digital flight control processor, autonomous flight capability in low level flight. Transfer of Technology has been given to L&T. Lakshya Weapon Delivery Configuration has also been developed and several weapon delivery sorties have been completed including with live weapons.
The NETRA V Series is a light weight, autonomous UAV for surveillance and recce operations jointly developed by DRDO’s Research & Development Establishment (R&DE) and ideaForge Technology Pvt Ltd — a Mumbai based private company. It weighs 1.5 kg only and is constructed of carbon fibre composites. It uses quadcopters to provide lift and control giving a VTOL capability. It has no moving parts other than the rotors, motors and transmissions, and hence it requires very low maintenance. A backpack case allows operators to carry the system to field locations to serve as the base station. It also contains the power supply, military-grade controller, hand-held operator console and the communication systems. CRPF and BSF are the users and ITBP has also used it in the past. It is currently being used in CBRN Emergency Management Training Courses. However, it has limited use for IAF.
DRDO also has initiated studies and research to develop an autonomous UCAV called Aura which it describes as long-range, self-defending, high-speed reconnaissance UAV with weapon carrying capabilities. Aura’s design is an all wing concept akin to the Boeing Phantom Ray UCAV which is being developed to carry laser guided or other bombs. It is expected to have stealth properties to make it undetectable by radar and thus would be suitable for cross border strikes. However, the absence of any hype about the project from DRDO spokespersons indicates that its consummation is quite distance in time.
In pursuance of international UAV trends, ADE has developed Micro and Mini UAVs in collaboration with CSIR-NAL for ISR missions. These vehicles have an endurance of 20 minutes to an hour. Reportedly, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has been cleared by MoD to commence work on the development of an Unmanned Tejas (India’s Light Combat Aircraft or LCA). This development may contribute to India’s indigenous stealth autonomous UCAV program albeit at characteristic public sector leisurely velocity. In the distant future, it may evoke interest from the IAF (although the IAF is not very enthusiastic about the manned version itself).
As can be seen from above, some small UAV projects initiated by DRDO have had some success mostly in the area of micro UAVs (MAVs), mini UAVs, tactical UAVs, and MALE UAVs, where the designs were started from scratch but integration was undertaken with the help of foreign companies. However, there still has not been a significant, successful major UAV program. The programs under development too do not hold great promise from the IAF point of view; those that do appear to be wrapped in uncertainty about features and time frames for operationalisation. In any case, the past history of DRDO UAVs does not encourage much enthusiasm. Succinctly put, indigenous unmanned systems development is unlikely to satisfy the IAF’s growing needs of such systems in the near future and with the public sector at the lead. Private sector participation and significant transfer of technology are required to make indigenous UAV production meaningful.
Possible UAV Acquisitions
The additions to the existing IAF’s Israeli inventories were discussed above. In addition there has been speculation about some non-Israeli UAVs/UCAVs being sought by the IAF. One of these is the Guardian which the Indian Navy is getting 22 of at an estimated cost of $2 billion. It belongs to the Predator family of drones and is optimised for maritime surveillance. The IAF may get the Predator-B (designated MQ-9 Reaper by the US Air Force). It can carry up to 1.7 tonnes of external stores, including sensors, anti-tank missiles and guided bombs, weighing up to 230 kg each. The heavier payload gives the flexibility of striking a diverse number of targets on the ground. However, during Modi’s visit to US in 2017, reports emerged about acquisition of 100 Predator C Avenger for the IAF. The Avengers incorporate stealth technology and can carry synthetic aperture radar. They are capable of flying with payloads of up to 1,400 to 1,600 kg (including missiles and bombs) and have an endurance of 16 to 20 hours. The jet powered model can fly up to 2,900 km and stay airborne for 18 hours. (A deal for 22 Predators Guardian UAVs for the Indian Navy was also reported during the PM’s visit). More recently, there have been conflicting reports about Indian MoD and Pentagon working on a standardized version of Predator B Reaper for use by all three Indian services (ten each).
However, the acquisition of a US UAV/UCAV is unlikely to provide any impetus to indigenous UAV endeavours in terms of transfer of technology.
Concluding Remarks
DRDO organisations such as the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been working on projects yet to produce noteworthy results. Private organisations such as Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), ideaForge Technology Pvt Ltd, and Edall Systems are involved in the development or part manufacture of these UAVs in collaboration with DRDO. Academic institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and IIT Kanpur are also playing a role in the development of these Indian UAVs. However, despite Modi’s personal backing of the ‘Make In India’ programme and several policy initiatives to encourage it, indigenous progress has been very slow in contrast to the developments worldwide. The single major factor has been the internal inefficiencies of DRDO with its work culture not up to the task of producing leading edge technologies. DRDO’s painfully slow progress and very low levels of technology and the high prices of import have kept IAF inventories low.
US and Israel are the leading edge manufacturers of unmanned systems; Israel has so far proved a reliable provider of UAVs to India and is the main supplier for India. Indeed, as mentioned earlier, Heron 1 (Israeli name Machatz 1), was offered to India for validation and trial in the variegated terrain and climate conditions prevalent in India, thus making India its first user nation. Israel can be persuaded to partner with Indian private sector entities for development of indigenous unmanned systems; the fact that Israel is the foremost producer of unmanned systems and its readiness to cooperate with India should be exploited for nurturing the Indian private sector. Needless to say, there would be resistance from the well entrenched (but grossly incompetent) public sector and that is where the government has to show resolve if India has to move forward in this arena. Private participation is the first and foremost option that holds the promise of meeting Indian military needs of unmanned systems. Simultaneously the public sector’s modest achievements so far can be built upon to advance towards bigger and more lethal systems — with Israeli help if possible. India has the capability to be at the leading edge of such technologies but its R&D is stunted on account of its being largely in the inherently inefficient public sector. Recent increase in interest by Indian private sector to cultivate unmanned systems (largely driven by commercial interests after the promulgation of a policy in civilian use of drones) is an encouraging development to watch. The enhanced efficiency, productivity and result orientation would be an assured consequence of private participation. India has been discussing “Project Cheetah” with Israel under which almost all the drones of the three services would be turned into high capability attack drones and their surveillance capabilities would also be enhanced. Perhaps, that project is a strategic opportunity of getting Israeli commercial interests and IAF’s security ones to confluence.
Source:
This article first appeared in the Indian Defence Review.
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/iafs-unmanned-capability-prospects-for-indigenisation/