India's Current & Future UAVs & UCAVs (1 Viewer)

[randombully]

Post in thread 'Ghatak UAV/UCAV' https://defenceforumbharat.com/threads/ghatak-uav-ucav.246/post-159430

 

[snakeeyes07]

These are for surveillance. Very cheap drone . I bet archer drone is cheaper given the Tapas drone which is bigger costs only rs 40-45 crores . So archer I guess ll be far cheaper than TB2 . Now compare that to cost of predator drone which we are paying 4 billion dollars for 31 drone . Of course predator fly high and lasts longer , but still 4 billion dollars .

MQ9B with SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian upgrade potential are world class force multipliers. If MQ9B are used as Tapas & Heron or as UCAV then they will be placed in unwarranted risk. They can be easily shot down as seen in Houthis theatre.

The 15 MQ9B navy ones could replace or support KA-31s for carrier launched AEW role, along with ASW role.

 

[FalconSlayers]

View: https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1932323850181611602

I don't know how effective these will be in a contested zone like India-Pakistan border, TB2 and Akinci were missing in the recent skirmish. I feel Nagastra type recoverable loitering munition are better suited to work in contested battlefields.

It is meant to be used as a reconnaissance platform, while being armed. It can be useful against an advancing mechanised formation while carrying 4x ATGMs, and can operate along side attack helicopters in anti-tank operations. Even if lost, these are extremely cheap to make with high rates of production.

Edit: Look at this, once Iranian AD was gone, basic recon drones flying over uncontested. Why shouldn't we invest in UCAVs like Predator to take out targets after AD is gone and reduce burden on manned aircrafts?

View: https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1933517450978775192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1933517450978775192%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=

 

[randombully]

View: https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1932323850181611602

It is meant to be used as a reconnaissance platform, while being armed. It can be useful against an advancing mechanised formation while carrying 4x ATGMs, and can operate along side attack helicopters in anti-tank operations. Even if lost, these are extremely cheap to make with high rates of production.

Or you can use reconnaissance even cheaper roconossense drone( hand launched can still give 6-10 endurance) mode( can also add warhead In it to make it kamikaze if needed) and pair them with switchboard another loitering munition which are pretty common, each drone will cost similar or less than an atgm that archer will carry.
Both russia and China and ukraine too who have developed similar drones, have not put them in service instead use the methods I just talked about.

We already had a discussion about archer being outdated concept now with the emergence of these drones now few months back.

Here, you can scroll and read the discussion.
Post in thread 'DRDO and PSUs' https://defenceforumbharat.com/threads/drdo-and-psus.23/post-97240

 

[randombully]

Or you can use reconnaissance even cheaper roconossense drone( hand launched can still give 6-10 endurance) mode( can also add warhead In it to make it kamikaze if needed) and pair them with switchboard another loitering munition which are pretty common, each drone will cost similar or less than an atgm that archer will carry.
Both russia and China and ukraine too who have developed similar drones, have not put them in service instead use the methods I just talked about.

We already had a discussion about archer being outdated concept now with the emergence of these drones now few months back.

Here, you can scroll and read the discussion.
Post in thread 'DRDO and PSUs' https://defenceforumbharat.com/threads/drdo-and-psus.23/post-97240

Also when I said "outdated" I don't mean to say archer is useless in its role, I meant there are "better alternatives" out there to fulfill the same role.

 

[silentassassin265]

Also when I said "outdated" I don't mean to say archer is useless in its role, I meant there are "better alternatives" out there to fulfill the same role.

Archer has good export potential for smaller countries

 

[Doreamon]

Archer has good export potential for smaller countries

Exactly . Just look at the advertisement that TB2 got . They show it as some super weapon . It got famous against some countries having no proper air defence and EW . It costs 5 million dollar per unit before it gets destroyed .. Paki even refrained from using it against india . They are keeping it safe to use it against Balooch , pakhtun or Afghanistan . ULPGM lunched from small drones far more lethal and cost effective .... In 2023 alone Byractar generated a revenue of 1.8 billion dollars . And here our Psus going from one RFI to another .. I hope some private company take the case of male drone .. there is a market among small countries around the world . Better system with lesser cost can be manufactured .

 

[randombully]

Archer has good export potential for smaller countries

 

[FalconSlayers]

View: https://x.com/ANI/status/1933030436826959892

 

[ArjunMK1A]

I don't know how effective these will be in a contested zone like India-Pakistan border, TB2 and Akinci were missing in the recent skirmish. I feel Nagastra type recoverable loitering munition are better suited to work in contested battlefields.

With Drone it is more with Quantity vs Quality approach. Rustom 1 can carry EO Sensor and can be armed with ATGM, ULPGM. A cheap platform with Decent firepower, we can degrade the Enemy ADS system by Kamikaze drone or drone like this.

 

[NerVik]

With Drone it is more with Quantity vs Quality approach. Rustom 1 can carry EO Sensor and can be armed with ATGM, ULPGM. A cheap platform with Decent firepower, we can degrade the Enemy ADS system by Kamikaze drone or drone like this.

I disagree, I think it should be a very fluid approach if drones are to be effective. It's about priorities, battle situation and mission profile. Quality over quantity when trying to use them in a rather electronic dense battle field. Imagine using drones against defensive stations like radars or other electronic jamming equipment or battlefields supported by extensive jammers. If your drone isn't of high enough quality the jammers can take down the cheaper drones (minus FPV drones).

Other situations such as a not so well defended armor column or infantry column, then mass drone attack of even cheaper kind could wreck a lot more havoc than a well placed air to ground glide bomb.

Need to have both kinds in enough quantities, good battle management strategies and tools to understand which battlefield needs which type of attack and the transportation capabilities to move these drones to the right battlefield.