Government in process to procure compact UAV system for IAF special forces for high-altitude areas

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry has started the process for procurement of a compact unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for the elite IAF special forces unit that can operate in extreme environmental conditions, and at altitudes up to 16,400 feet above mean sea level.The ministry recently issued a request for information (RFI) for procuring a ‘micro UAV’ system for the Garud special forces. “There is a need for special forces friendly compact MIL standard, light weight, easy to carry micro UAV system which can be operated at high altitude areas with enhanced EOIR Gimbal surveillance and target acquisition feature, with higher sustainability at high altitude areas as compared to the existing micro UAV system. It should be a multipurpose UAV system, suitable to operate all Indian climatic condition and terrain during special forces operations. Operational life should be 7 years or 500 landings whichever is earlier,” the RFI said.“The complete weight of a man-portable micro UAV system should not be more than 25 kg, packed in two all-weather backpacks,” it said. The proposed system should also be able to support day and night surveillance, target acquisition and real-time situational awareness.“The system is required to operate in extreme environmental conditions, including temperatures ranging from minus 20 deg C to plus 50 deg C,” the statement said. The proposed system is also envisaged to have an increased range as well as enhanced endurance level, they said. It should also be capable of operating in GPS-denied environments and be scalable to Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the officials said.It must also feature autonomous vertical take-off and landing capability, secure encrypted communication links, and should have “multiple operational modes” including autonomous, manual, and target tracking modes. The RFI emphasises procurement under the ‘Buy (Indian–IDDM)’ or ‘Buy Indian’ categories with a requirement of “minimum 60% indigenous content,” the request said.