Latest news with #MiniUAV
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Army deploys drones to make rapid advances
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Army has started placing orders with Indian companies for a range of drones, loitering munitions and counter-drone systems as part of emergency procurements , cleared by the Rajnath Singh-led defence ministry, to boost operational some contracts have been inked to boost counterinsurgency capabilities, a much larger number is expected to be inked in the coming weeks as the ministry has given sweeping powers to the armed forces to quickly identify and purchase cutting-edge systems developed by the industry, besides replenishing ammunition and long-range, standoff of the systems purchased is Nagastra 1R advanced loitering system that can take down infiltrators and target enemy positions at shallow depths on the Line of Control. The Army has placed an order for 450 of the munitions with Solar Industries , valued at ₹158 crore. The cost-effective systems are already in use by the Army and the fresh batch has to be delivered within 12 order has been placed with ideaForge Secures for hybrid Mini UAVs, which have already been battle-tested and inducted into the Army's inventory for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) operations. This is a fixed-wing VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) company said it went through a "rare and rigorous validation process" before the selection that included two independent high-power technical committees that verified the integrity and origin of Mini UAV's critical evaluation was carried out as the forces do not want any critical parts of the system to be of Chinese reported, the armed forces are focusing on long-range weapons , jammers, air defence systems and indigenous solutions for the 'new normal' approach against forces have drawn up a roadmap to award contracts worth thousands of crores, a large chunk of which is set to go to the private sector. Weapons worth ₹44,000 crore are likely to be ordered in the coming days, including ammunition for prolonged conflict. A special focus is on 'long range vectors', weapons that can be used from a standoff distance to strike deep into enemy forces are also looking to acquire jammers and low-level transportable radars in higher numbers in the coming months as they proved effective in thwarting large-scale drones attacks during Op armed forces are also likely to go in for a range of air defence capabilities to further strengthen the network that kept the Pakistani missile and drone barrage in check.
The Print
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
ideaForge bags Rs 137 cr deal to supply surveillance drones battle-tested during Op Sindoor to Army
ideaForge said the contract was awarded following a stringent evaluation process that placed emphasis on performance, security, and supply chain integrity. The hybrid Mini UAV is a fixed-wing VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) platform, designed for rapid deployment in complex terrains and contested environments. The drones, which were battle-tested during Operation Sindoor for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, will be delivered within 12 months to meet immediate operational needs, the company said in a statement. New Delhi: The Indian Army has signed a Rs 137 crore contract with Mumbai-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer ideaForge through the emergency procurement route, for the supply of hybrid Mini UAV systems. A key requirement during the selection process was that critical subsystems be sourced only from non-border-sharing nations, in line with the defence ministry's ongoing efforts to limit foreign dependencies, especially on Chinese-origin components and promote domestic manufacturing. As ThePrint reported in March, the government has been working to finalise a framework that restricts Chinese components in UAVs deployed in sensitive operational areas, particularly along India's northern and eastern borders. Drones with Chinese embedded components have been flagged as a serious concern by the defence establishment. ideaForge noted that its UAVs underwent 'a rare and rigorous validation process' involving two separate high-level technical committees formed after the trials. These panels conducted multiple factory visits, physically and digitally stripping down each UAV unit to verify the origin of every critical component, assess embedded security architecture, and confirm supplier credibility. According to the company, a crucial aspect of the evaluation was to ensure exclusion of components from countries sharing land borders with India, aligning with policy guidelines that favour indigenous platforms and trusted sourcing. The hybrid Mini UAV has already received the 'Fit for Indian Military Use' certification from the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), a certificate given only to systems that meet stringent standards of operational resilience, reliability and combat-readiness. The platform was also deployed during Operation Sindoor, where it was used by the Indian Army in live ISR operations. The performance of the UAV in real-world conditions was cited in the statement as a key factor that validated its technological robustness and mission utility. Ankit Mehta, co-founder and CEO of ideaForge, added, 'This emergency procurement for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations reaffirms our commitment to building reliable, mission-critical UAVs in India. It is a matter of pride that our platforms are not just made in India, but are built to serve India under the toughest operational scenarios, supported by a trusted and resilient supply chain,' Mehta said. The order is part of the sixth edition of the emergency procurement drive, which Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed on Friday. The government had approved the drive worth around Rs 40,000 crore in mid-May under which the services can fast-track the delivery of critical weapons systems, ammunition and surveillance platforms identified as urgent requirements post-Operation Sindoor. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Just protecting borders from drone attacks isn't enough. Look at Ukraine & Russia
