Three billion dollars for five thousand UAVs. This is the scope of the new Indian Defense program, presented a few hours ago.
"The offers will be limited to national companies that can make use of foreign companies. The lack of industrial skills, linked to delays and excessive costs, have hindered the production of indigenous UAVs ".
The Indian Ministry of Defense, within the next three to five years, expects to have both UAV battalions for the army and UCAV squadrons for aviation. The armed forces propose the purchase of various platforms: from micro drones to high-altitude tactical UAVs. The Defense Research and Development Organization has already received internal orders for hundreds of millions of dollars.
Specifically, the Indian Aviation purchased three UCAVs Rustom and a ground station at a cost of 60 million dollars. Two UURA stealth AURA o Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft and a land station for 75 million dollars. 30 UAV Nirbhay and dozens of high-speed guided targets Lakshya-II for a total of 40 million dollars.
The Indian Navy has purchased three UCAVs Rustom and a land station for 60 million dollars. The funds were allocated for another twelve systems Rustom for a total cost of 225 million dollars. Four mini UAVs Pawan for 25 million dollars. Three experimental rotary-wing UAVs at a cost of 232 million dollars. An unknown number of micro UAVs Netra at the cost of 50 thousand dollars per unit. 55 million dollars, finally, for the platform Gagan, developed with Israel.
The Army bought 15 Rustom more land stations for 342 million dollars. 12 UAV Nishant (photo) at a cost of 5 million dollars each and three experimental mini-UAVs for other 350 thousand dollars.
Indian paramilitary forces will also receive 25 micro UAVs Netra at a cost of 50 thousand dollars per unit.
The Indian Ministry of Defense states that the development of combat UAVs will begin within the next two years, as will a HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance) solar-powered drone. Currently the Indian army has finalized the purchase of 800 drones for all the armed forces.
(photo: DRDO)
