NISHANT UAV

March 2010 I A Commentary on Unmanned Systems

A look at the present

Unmanned Systems-
Unmanned Capability
Development and The capability provided by an unmanned system is game changing. It is possible to
have your adversaries under surveillance 24/7. No armed force can do without
Procurement programs
unmanned systems and they have proved their worth in Iraq, Afghanistan and the
in India. Balkan conflict.

Unmanned systems not only provide a platform for precision attacks; they go a big way
in saving human lives and preventing collateral damage.

The Indian Army and Paramilitary forces encounter terrorists, insurgents and other
asymmetric and urban warfare threats in cities as well as in the challenging terrains of
North and the North East parts of India. An unmanned system goes a long way in
assisting the forces to keep control.

This report provides an update on the various unmanned air, ground and underwater
systems currently under development for the Indian armed forces.
Unmanned systems are a strong focus Program: MALE (Medium Altitude Long
in the prospective plans for Indian Endurance) UAV- RUSTOM
defence forces as well as homeland
security agencies. Program was initiated by DRDO
through ADE. First prototype trial
India is building significant unmanned carried out in September 2008.
capability for battlefield management for
Range: 250-300km
conventional, asymmetric and urban
warfare. Payload: 200kg
Max speed: 225 km/h
Current Indian plans include unmanned
systems for ground, underwater and air Operational Ceiling: 35000 feet
superiority. Endurance: 24-36hrs
Project cost: US$ 225 million

Detail: The indigenous Rustom project is a

pioneering act of the government, as it allows
the ADE to choose a domestic partner for the
joint development and production for the
MALE UAV, termed as Production Agency cum
Development Partner (PADP). DRDO will follow
a practice of concurrent engineering where
initial design efforts also take into
consideration production issues, with the
production agency participating in the
development of the system right from the
design stage.
A total of 23 firms had expressed interest in the
project and the RFP was issued to the Tata
Group; Larsen and Toubro; Godrej Industries
and Hindustan Aeronautics-Bharat Electronics.
The chosen PADP was also to have a financial
stake in the Rustom project. However only
HAL-BEL submitted a response to the RFP,
leading to a single vendor situation. The private
companies found the terms and conditions of
six years of investments for design and
development as risky with very low returns on
investment.
In a setback to the Rustom program, the UAV
crashed during its trial on Nov 16, 2009. The
test flight took place at the Taneja aerospace
airfield, Hosur, Karnataka. The taxiing and
takeoff was exactly as planned, however due
misjudgment of altitude of the flight, the on-
board engine was switched off which made the
thrust go to zero.
Program: PAWAN-MINI UAV
4 prototypes to be built by ADE
Range: 150km
Endurance: 5hrs
Development cost: US$ 33 million
Detail: This is a joint program between DRDO
and Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). The
Electro-Optical sensors will be provided by IAI.
ADE will develop the stabilizer platform. The
engine is yet to be determined; however it will
not come from an indigenous source.
Program: NIRBHAY UAV
Conventional take off and landing.
Payload: 130kg
Endurance: 2 hours
Recovery: Parachutes; Air bags.
30 units to be built by HAL
Detail: This is a high-speed, medium altitude
system. It will be equipped with a tricycle
under-carriage. Its mission sensor suite will
include X-band inverse synthetic aperture radar
(probably an ELTA supply), a wideband two-
way data link and a ring laser gyro based
inertial navigation system coupled to a GPS
receiver. The first flight of the prototype was
slated for the second half of 2009. More details
are awaited on the same.
Program: NIRBHAY; High Speed TARGET
DRONE.
Maximum Take-off weight: 650kg
Max speed: 0.92Mach at 10000ft.
Max speed: 1100km/h at sea level.
Recovery: Parachutes; Air bags.
80 units to be built by HAL
Details: This project was initiated in late 2005
and was put on the fast track. The drone will be
powered by a NPO-Saturn supplied 36MT
turbofan rated at 400kg. The drone is capable
of simulating the flight profiles of land attack;
anti-ship cruise and anti-ship sea skimming
missiles. The drone will have a digital flight
management system, which will enable the
drone to undertake various flight maneuvers
like snaking, pop-up and a 40-degree dive. The
program was slated for its first prototype flight
in early 2009. More details are awaited on the
same.
Program: NRUAV; Naval rotary unmanned air
vehicle.
Based on the Chetak helicopter
platform.
Endurance: 6hrs.
Operational celing: 15000feet.
Max speed: 186 km/h. (100 knots)
Payload: 220kg
Detail: The NRUAV will be mainly supplied to
the Indian navy, though an attractive export
market also exists. A contract between IAI and
HAL is currently pending final approval for the
exact business terms.
The payload of the NRUAV will consist of the
ELTA EL/M -2022 as its multi-mission radar for
detecting small naval targets, ground moving
targets indication (GMTI), strip and spot
Synthetic Aperture Radar modes, range
signature, Inverse synthetic aperture radar
(ISAR) and a Search and Rescue Transponder
(SART). The radar incorporates a Pulse-Doppler
target detection and can detect up to 64
airborne targets and track 10 of them.
Program: NETRA, MICRO unmanned air
vehicle
QUADROTOR, with VTOL capability.
2-man portable design, weight 1.5kg.
 Payload: 300 gms.
Operational ceiling: 200metres.
Endurance: 30 min
Range: 1500metres.
Built by DRDO and IDEAFORGE Tech.
Detail: This is a fully autonomous UAV designed
specifically for anti-terrorist and counter
insurgency operations. It is used for
surveillance and reconnaissance. The operator
simply selects the waypoints from a graphical
interface showing the map of the area and
specifies the heights at these positions. The
auto-pilot controller takes over the tasks of
take-off and navigation as per the flight plan.
The onboard stabilization is achieved by a
smart auto pilot controller getting inputs from
a GPS, gyro, magnetometers, accelerometers
and altitude sensors. The built-in intelligence in
the controller allows for failsafe operations
wherein in case of either a communication
failure or low battery, the UAV returns to take-
off position automatically.
100 units of NETRA are being supplied to the
Ministry of Home affairs.
Program: Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV),
DAKSH
Range: 500 meters.
Endurance: 3 hours.
Object handling capacity: 9-20kg.
Weight: 350kg.
Designed for IED handling.
Detail: The unmanned ground vehicle is
designed for IED handling and is augmented
with X-Ray scanning and an explosive-based
Water Jet Disrupter. The operation includes
safe-handling and removal of hazardous
objects, with in-situ scanning of suspected
objects. The attached Water Jet Disruptor has a
penetration capability through 1/2'’ inch
plywood at 3metres distance and a diode laser
pointer based precision aiming device. DAKSH
also has the capability to lift, drag and tow
suspected objects from the field.
DAKSH can also be used for NBC
reconnaissance. It carries onboard a
RADIATION MEASURMENT & AUTOMATIC
CONTROL UNIT (RADMAC) and a PORTABLE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPH (PGC) to survey
contaminated locations.
DAKSH is controlled by a Master Control
Station (MCS) that features a membrane
keypad, touch screen and joysticks with speed
control. It can control DAKSH either in a
wireless manner or with the help of fiber
optics.
DAKSH and the MCS are carried along with
bomb disposal stores and crew in an
ergonomically designed carrier vehicle.
20 units of DAKSH are being progressively
supplied to the Indian Army by DRDO.
Program: TRACKED UNMANNED GROUND
VEHICLE (UGV).
Armored, Amphibious and Air-Mobile
Capability: NBC reconnaissance.
Total weight: 14-tonne.
Range: 400km
Max Speed: 65 km/h
Based on BMP-IIk chassis
DETAIL: This unmanned ground vehicle has
cross country capability and is fitted with
nuclear, chemical, meteorological and
positional sensors for monitoring contaminated
areas. This vehicle will counter threats from
armies that use NBC warfare.
The prototype of this vehicle was handed over
to the army in Aug, ’09. It consists of a drive-by-
wire system, which includes electromechanical
actuators and drives for the driver interface.
The signals from the engine are acquired by a
data acquisition card and displayed in the
graphical user interface. The vehicle can
transmit data to the command headquarters
on request through the communication link
controller and a STAR-V radio set.
8 vehicles are to be supplied to the Indian army
by the CVRDE (Combat vehicles Research and
Development Establishment). This vehicle is
widely presumed to be the precursor to the
development of a future unmanned battle
tank.
Program: GUN MOUNTED REMOTELY
OPERATED VEHICLE (GMR-ROV)
Range: 200 meters.
Endurance: 1.5 hours.
Total Weight: 300kg.
Status: Prototype
Detail: This is a remotely operated vehicle
designed for offensive operations mainly in
urban areas for hostage situations and counter
insurgency missions. The GMR is equipped with
a light machine gun (7.62 cal) and a grenade
launcher (30 cal) with belt-feed ammunition.
The guns have a 2-axis degree of freedom.
The GMR has adequate vision capability to
operate during day and night conditions and
has a laser pointer for aiming. The indigenously
developed PAN-O-VISION camera enables a
180 degree view and has a 22x optical zoom.
The GMR is controlled through a portable
Master Control Station allowing the operator
easy use and deploy ability.
The GMR-ROV is being developed by the
Research & Development Establishment
(RADE), Pune.
Program: AUTONOMOUS UNDER WATER
VEHICLE (AUV- 150)
Max Depth: 150meters.
Max speed: 2-4 knots (3.7-7.4km/h)
Weight: 490kg.
Detail: This AUV is designed by DRDO and built
by the engineers of the Central Mechanical
Engineering Research Institute (CMERI),
Durgapur- West Bengal. The project was
sponsored by the ministry of earth sciences and
had technical assistance from IIT Kharagpur.
The AUV is 4.8 meters long and 50cm wide. It
has onboard a depth sensor, altimeter, sonar,
GPS, payload sensors and a hybrid
communication system. It is powered by a
lithium-polymer battery.
The fresh-water test of the AUV-150 was
carried out at in Kerela last month (Feb ’10).
The ocean-test is slated for March ’10, off the
coast of Chennai. The test will comprise sea
floor mapping and monitoring of
environmental parameters like current,
temperature, depth and salinity. Once the
technology is proven, it will be customized for
military use, like mine countermeasures,
coastal monitoring, etc.
Program: Deep Sea Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
Max Depth: 610 meters.
Max weight: 20.6 tone
Capacity: 18 men
Operate up to SEASTATE-5
Air-transportable
Detail: The Indian Navy has already selected
the REMORA 2000 deep sea rescue vehicle for
its submarines in 2005, along with its launch
and recovery system and a fully integrated self-
contained emergency life support system
package. The DSRV can transfer personnel
under pressure up to 6 atmospheres into
surface decompression facilities. The related
decompression facility can treat more than 100
personnel. The entire Remora 2000 system can
be air-transported for rapid deployment. The
contract with Canada’s Ocean works is yet to
be signed.
Program: AEROSTAT RADAR – EL/M-2083
Detail: India is purchasing 2 more of these
systems from Israel. This is a follow on order to
the 2 systems that were purchased in early
2007; these are currently deployed in Punjab
and the Rann of Kutch. The Indian Air Force
requires a total of 13 such systems.
There are unconfirmed reports that one of the
Aerostat radars has ‘gone down’ and that it
was probably shot down from across the
border.
Current aerostat systems use a 100-250 foot
long, helium filled, unmanned blimp as the
platform and an array of payloads including
radars, communication links and other sensors.
These tethered aerostats are designed to stay
in the same place and are secured by a cable to
keep the aerostat in position. At that altitude,
large aerostats carry a two ton payload and can
stay up for about 30 days at a time. For the
current platforms usually two radars are
carried - A surveillance radar and a precision
track and illumination radar (PTIR). The
surveillance radar provides long-range
coverage (about 500 kilometers for the EL/M-
2083), while the PTIR, which is a steerable
system capable of tracking multiple targets, can
focus in on items of interest.
The EL/M-2083 costs about $20 million. Israel
itself is using two of them, and has four more
on order.
Aerostat systems have a great use in the Home-
Land Security arena as well. The Ministry of
Home Affairs is seriously considering this
system for the upcoming Common Wealth
Games in Delhi. These will be smaller aerostats
that will have high resolution cameras
Mini and Micro UAVs – Private Initiatives
Unmanned systems is one of the areas where
there are several private-domestic firms taking
active participation. Below is a brief description
of some of them.
AURORA INTEGRATED SYSTEMS (AIS)
Aurora Integrated Systems is an Indian
company developing indigenous technology,
manufacturing and integrating airborne
systems with a focus on small Unmanned Aerial
Systems (UAS). It is supported and funded by
the TATA group.
Aurora Integrated Systems designs and
manufactures Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
AIS is currently offering four different UAS:
•Sky Dot - Micro Aerial Vehicle
•Urban View - Low Altitude Surveillance
System
•ALTIUS - Tactical MALE UAS
•Aero Vista – Aerostat
ANJANI TECHNOPLAST
Anjani established its UAV Division in 2008 with
a focus on Rotary wing UAVs. In 2009 Anjani
took steps to begin production of some rotary
wing UAV models for applications as diverse as
Aerial photography, Surveillance, Field
inspection, Border control, and Military use.
Anjani currently offers 2 models:
MICRO UAS ADG-200
MICRO UAS ADG-1000
MUKESH KUMAR UDYOG (MKU)
MKU has developed an unmanned Aerial
Vehicle christened ‘TERP-II’. It showcased a
prototype of TERP-II at the Defexpo-2010. It
plans to officially launch the ‘TERP-II’ by the
middle of this year.
The Tactical Reconnaissance Electrical Probe
(TREP) is an all composite, backpack-able UAV
System for situational awareness needs of
military, paramilitary and civilian deployments.
The other offering from MKU is the ERASMUS
UAV for frontline operations. The system is
transported in 2 ruggedized containers and
requires 45 minutes for assembly or
disassembly. The system is equipped with an
Image Exploitation System which enables it to
track or target objects based on a visual image
reference.
NOVA INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited and
Israel Aerospace Industries have floated a joint
venture firm, Nova Integrated Systems Limited
in India to manufacture Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) for payloads greater than 100
Kg payloads. No products are available as of
now.
SPECK SYSTEMS
SPECK Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries
have floated a joint venture firm to
manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
for payloads less than 100 Kgs. The product
range will include mini and micro UAVs.
Product details are not available..
DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (DTU)
Lockheed Martin Corporation announced in
September ‘09 that it will be providing a grant
to a group of 10 undergraduate students from
the Delhi Technology University (DTU),
formerly the Delhi College of Engineering, to
develop a Next-Generation Urban UAV. The
Corporation will provide the student group
with Lockheed Martin-generated design space
to structure their efforts. The team will be
required to conduct initial design and then
develop a flying prototype. This group of
students recently won the Director's award for
the best team effort for demonstrating a
successful flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) at the 2009 Association of Unmanned
Vehicles System International (AUVSI) Student
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) competition.
ideaFORGE
ideaForge, a company founded by three IIT
Bombay alumni, has developed Carbon, an
autonomous hovering Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) for short range reconnaissance,
surveillance and scientific missions, terrain
mapping, and disaster management. According
to the manufacturers, Carbon is the lightest
and smallest possible UAV currently available.
The aircraft weighs less than 1.5 kilogram and
can fly at a cruise speed of 25 kilometer per
hour (kmph) and a maximum speed of 40
kmph. The inbuilt battery allows it to stay in air
for about 30 minutes and fly up to two
kilometers at a stretch.
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