Photo Courtesy: dras.in
1. Introduction
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have transformed modern warfare, acting as invisible sentinels that gather intelligence, strike targets with precision, and save lives by reducing human risk. For India, a nation flanked by hostile neighbours and vast maritime boundaries, UAVs are not just gadgets but strategic lifelines. From the icy heights of Ladakh to the pirate-infested Indian Ocean, UAVs are now the eyes and ears of India’s military. This article delves into India’s UAV journey, exploring its triumphs, struggles, and roadmap to self-reliance, while comparing its progress with rivals China and Pakistan.
2. Historical Evolution of UAVs in the Indian Armed Forces
2.1 Indian Army: From Humble Beginnings to Organized Wings
The Indian Army’s tryst with UAVs began in the shadow of the Kargil War (1999), where the lack of real-time surveillance cost lives.
- 1996–2000: The Searcher Era.
- Searcher Mk I: India’s first UAV, imported from Israel.
- Specs: 6-8-hour endurance, 35 kg payload, 120 km range.
- Role: Basic reconnaissance in Jammu & Kashmir.
- Searcher Mk II
- Specs: 6-8 hour endurance, 35 kg payload, 200-300 km range.
- Role: Basic reconnaissance in Jammu & Kashmir.
- Limitations: Limited to daytime operations; vulnerable to bad weather.
- Searcher Mk I: India’s first UAV, imported from Israel.
- 2001–2005: Heron-1 – A Game Changer
- Heron-1: A Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
- Specs: 60-hour endurance, 250-350 km range, 250 kg payload.
- Impact: Enabled continuous surveillance along the Pakistan border.
- Heron-1: A Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
- 2005–2010: The Indigenous Dream – Nishant
- Nishant: Developed by DRDO, catapult-launched with a parachute recovery.
- Specs: 160 km range, 4.5-hour endurance, 45 kg payload.
- Reality Check: Only 12 units inducted; retired by 2020 due to operational hassles.
- Nishant: Developed by DRDO, catapult-launched with a parachute recovery.
- 2020s: Organizing the UAV Fleet
- Army Aviation Corps: Took charge of Heron and Searcher fleets.
- SATA Regiment: Focused on tactical UAVs for artillery targeting.
2.2 Indian Air Force: From Surveillance to Strike
The IAF’s UAV journey mirrors India’s evolving threats.
- Post-Kargil (1999–2005)
- Searcher Mk II: Upgraded version with 200-300 km range.
- Heron-1: Used to monitor Pakistan’s border movements.
- 2018: The Heron-TP Leap
- Heron-TP: Satellite-linked, armed UAV.
- Specs: 5,000 km range, 30-hour endurance, 2,700 kg payload.
- Role: Designated targets for Rafale jets during Balakot strikes (2019).
- Heron-TP: Satellite-linked, armed UAV.
- 2020: Harop – The Kamikaze Drone
- Harop: A loitering munition for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD).
- Specs: 1,000 km range, 6-hour loiter time, 23 kg warhead.
- Harop: A loitering munition for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD).
2.3 Indian Navy: Guardians of the Seas
The Navy’s UAVs patrol India’s 7,500 km coastline and protect maritime trade routes.
- 2000s: Coastal Surveillance
- Searcher Mk II: Monitored pirate activities near Somalia.
- Heron-1: Tracked Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean.
- 2016: The SeaGuardian Experiment
- MQ-9B SeaGuardian: Leased from the U.S. for $150 million.
- Specs: 40-hour endurance, 1,800 kg payload, anti-submarine sonobuoys.
- MQ-9B SeaGuardian: Leased from the U.S. for $150 million.
- 2020: Indigenous Naval UAVs
- NRUAV: A ship-launched rotary UAV for fleet protection.
- Specs: 50 km range, 2-hour endurance, 10 kg payload.
- NRUAV: A ship-launched rotary UAV for fleet protection.
3. Current UAV Inventory (2021–2023)
3.1 Indian Army: Eyes on the Himalayas
The Army’s UAVs, operated by the Aviation Corps and SATA Regiment, focus on China’s incursions along the LAC.
| UAV Model | Type | Quantity | Key Features | Role |
| Heron Mk II | MALE UAV | 90+ | 1,000 km range, 52-hour endurance, SATCOM | Border surveillance (LAC) |
| Searcher Mk II | Tactical UAV | 50+ | 250 km range, 18-hour endurance | Artillery target acquisition |
| Switch UAV | Mini-UAV | 200+ | 15 km range, 90-min endurance (ideaForge) | Infantry battalions |
| Nagastra-1 | Loitering Munition | 100+ | 30 km range, kamikaze strike | Tactical strikes |
| Rustom-2 (Tapas) | MALE UAV (DRDO) | 4 prototypes | 24-hour endurance, 250 kg payload (delayed) | Testing phase |
Recent Procurements (2021–2023):
- Predator MQ-9B SkyGuardian: 10 approved (tri-services deal).
- Army-specific Upgrades: Heron fleet integrated with Israeli SPICE-2000 bombs (2022).
3.2 Indian Air Force: The Deep-Strike Architects
The IAF’s UAVs focus on penetrating enemy airspace and guiding airstrikes.
| UAV Model | Type | Quantity | Key Features | Role |
| Heron-TP | MALE UAV | 16 | 5,000 km range, armed with laser-guided bombs | Deep-strike coordination |
| Harop | Loitering Munition | 110+ | 1,000 km range, 6-hour loiter time | SEAD missions |
| Archer-NG | MALE UAV (DRDO) | 2 prototypes | 18-hour endurance, 300 kg payload | Trials for ISR |
Recent Procurements:
- 6x Hermes-900 (Israel, 2023): Advanced SATCOM-enabled UAVs for high-altitude LAC monitoring.
3.3 Indian Navy: Masters of the Indian Ocean
The Navy’s UAVs counter Chinese naval bases in Djibouti and Sri Lanka.
| UAV Model | Type | Quantity | Key Features | Role |
| MQ-9B SeaGuardian | HALE UAV | 16 (leased) | 40-hour endurance, anti-submarine warfare | Maritime patrol |
| ILAUS | Ship-launched UAV | 50+ | 10 km range, 45-min endurance | Fleet protection |
| TAPAS-BH-201 (Navy) | MALE UAV (DRDO) | Under trials | 24-hour endurance, maritime radar | Coastal surveillance |
Recent Procurements:
- 10x Drishti 10 (indigenous, 2023): Electro-optical pods for ship-based reconnaissance.
4. Future Procurements (2024–2030)
4.1 Tri-Services Mega Deals
- MQ-9B Predator
- Specs:
- Endurance: 40 hours
- Range: 11,000 km
- Payload: 1,800 kg (Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 bombs)
- Cost: $3 billion for 31 units (16 Navy, 8 IAF, 7 Army).
- Specs:
- Project Cheetah
- Upgrades:
- Weaponization: Heron UAVs armed with Spice-2000 bombs.
- SATCOM: Real-time data sharing with command centers.
- Upgrades:
4.2 Indigenous Projects
- Ghatak UCAV
- Specs:
- Stealth: Radar-absorbent materials
- Speed: Mach 0.9
- Payload: 1,000 kg (guided bombs)
- Status: Maiden flight expected in 2025.
- Specs:
- TAPAS-BH-201 (Rustom-2)
- Specs:
- Endurance: 24 hours
- Altitude: 28,000 ft
- Payload: 350 kg (ELINT, COMINT)
- Delay: 15-year development cycle; induction by 2026.
- Specs:
5. Comparative Analysis: India vs. China vs. Pakistan
5.1 China: The UAV Juggernaut
- Wing Loong-10
- Specs: 10,000 km range, 12x air-to-ground missiles.
- Deployment: Used against Uyghur militants in Xinjiang.
- GJ-11 Stealth UCAV
- Specs: Mach 0.9 speed, 1,200 kg internal payload.
- Role: Simulated strikes on U.S. carriers in South China Sea.
5.2 Pakistan: Borrowed Power
- Bayraktar TB2 (Turkey)
- Specs: 150 km range, 4x MAM-L missiles.
- Usage: Deployed in Kargil (2022) to target Indian posts.
- Shahpar-II
- Specs: 400 km range, 14-hour endurance.
- Limitation: Relies on Chinese satellite navigation.
5.3 Key Data Comparison
| Parameter | India | China | Pakistan |
| Total Military UAVs | ~250 | 5,000+ | ~300 |
| Armed UAVs (%) | 10% | 40% | 25% |
| Indigenous UAVs (%) | 30% | 90% | 15% |
| R&D Budget (2023) | $180 million | $2.5 billion | $50 million |
6. Critical Analysis: Where India Stands
6.1 Strengths
- Diverse Fleet: Israeli Herons for surveillance, U.S. Predators for strikes.
- Operational Success: Herons detected PLA’s Galwan intrusions in 2020.
6.2 Weaknesses
- Import Dependency: 70% of UAVs are foreign; sanctions could cripple fleet.
- Slow R&D: Tapas project delayed due to engine import issues.
7. Solutions: The Roadmap to UAV Supremacy
7.1 Boost Indigenous Production
- Budget: Increase UAV R&D allocation to $500 million by 2025.
- Private Sector: Partner with Tata, L&T for Ghatak UCAV production.
7.2 Counter-Drone Tech
- DRDO’s D4 System: Detect drones up to 4 km, jam signals.
- Laser Weapons: 10-kW lasers to burn small UAVs.
8. Conclusion
India’s UAV journey is a story of ambition meeting adversity. While the military has made strides, bureaucratic delays and underfunded R&D haunt its quest for self-reliance. With China deploying AI-powered swarms and Pakistan arming itself with Turkish drones, India must act swiftly. The upcoming ₹22,000 crore UAV modernization plan could be transformative.
