Latest news with #Rustom
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nagastra, Harpy, Kamikaze, and more: What Operation Sindoor against Pakistan reveals about India's readiness for the future of drone wars
History of drones Live Events How India started using drones What happened last week? Different types of drones Israeli Heron and Rustom (developed by DRDO) TAPAS-BH-201 (Tactical Advanced Platform for Aerial Surveillance) Burraq (also has combat capabilities) Uqab | Chinese-origin drones like Wing Loong and CH-4 Armed Heron TP (from Israel) DRDO's Ghatak (under development) Burraq (indigenously developed, based on Chinese technology) Wing Loong II (Chinese) Warmate (Polish origin) Nagastra (made by Solar Industries & ZMotion) Possibly Turkish loitering munitions like Kargu or CH-901 These are off-the-shelf drones, often modified for illegal cross-border activity like arms/ drug smuggling or surveillance. Frequently used in Punjab and Jammu regions for dropping weapons or drugs. Both countries have reported drone intrusions involving these low-cost devices. Multiple drones operate in coordination to overwhelm enemy defenses. DRDO and private firms are working on swarm drone technology. Though there's little evidence of swarm capability in Pakistan, it is possibly collaborating with China and Turkiye. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Drones are no longer just flying machines used for spying, they're changing the way wars are fought. They're quick to launch, hard to spot, and can strike with precision, all without risking a pilot's latest clash between India and Pakistan proves how central drones have become in military planning. The Russia-Ukraine war has shown the same. Just like trenches defined World War I, drones are shaping the wars of story of drones goes back more than 100 years. In World War I, Britain tested a radio-controlled 'Aerial Target' in 1917, and the US followed with the Kettering 'Bug' in 1918. These didn't enter combat but proved that remote-controlled aircraft were the years between the two world wars, drones were mostly used for shooting practice. Britain's 1935 drone, the Queen Bee, even gave us the term 'drone'. By the Cold War, things picked up. In the 1950s and 60s, the US began using drones for spying missions. They were heavily used during the Vietnam the 1970s, drones with glider-like wings that could fly for over 24 hours were developed. The 1990s Balkan Wars saw this long-flying ability in action. Then came satellite control and real-time video, drones could be operated from miles away and give live big game-changer came around 2000, when the US armed the Predator drone with Hellfire missiles. This made it a deadly weapon, capable of spying and striking, all without a first used drones in the 1999 Kargil War. Back then, IAF pilots had to fly risky missions to photograph enemy positions. One plane was even shot down. After that, India got drones from Israel, mainly Searcher and Heron types. These helped India locate enemy spots along the Line of Control (LoC). This early success pushed India to invest more in 2002, India bought the Israeli Searcher Mk II and Heron drones. Later, it even got Harpy drones, kamikaze drones that destroy enemy radars by crashing into them. These may have been used in last week's action near per TOI, in 2009, India purchased 10 Harop drones from Israel, upgraded versions of the Harpy that can destroy radar sites and moving vehicles. By 2021, India secured the newer Heron TP/Mark 2 for longer flights and heavier payloads. It also leased two American MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for sea patrols and signed a deal in October to buy 30 MQ-9 Reapers, long-range armed drones India is also working on its own drones. DRDO's Ghatak is under development, and Indian-made loitering drones like Nagastra have been per TOI, India used its armed drones in real combat for the first time on 7–8 May. It launched Harop drones to hit terrorist bases and Pakistani air defence systems. These drones loitered in the air, located targets by detecting radar signals, and then dived in like guided 8–9 May, Pakistan hit back. Drone swarms crossed into Indian airspace at 26 places, from Kashmir to Rajasthan. Many were carrying explosives. India had to quickly use its air defence systems to stop them. Israeli Heron Mk II drones were also deployed by India to keep a close watch on Pakistani drones are primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) are capable of launching missiles or dropping drones are designed to loiter over a target area and strike when a target is identified.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
India Is Testing New Defense Technologies That Mirror Russia And Ukraine
Over the past three years, the Russia-Ukraine War has transformed modern warfare, as new technologies are being rapidly developed and fielded to provide enhanced capabilities to the warfighters. Both countries are heavily leveraging commercial technology, especially in the drone and counter-drone space, to defeat traditional military systems, such as tanks and artillery. This shift has allowed different countries, including India, to become larger players in the defense technology domain. In particular, India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has conducted a number of tests in the last few months on cutting-edge drone and counter-drone systems. Founded in 1958, the DRDO's mission is to reduce India's dependence on foreign defense systems by creating indigenous technologies. The organization currently employs more than 5,000 scientists in a broad network of laboratories and research centers. Despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on military modernization and domestic production, the DRDO still operates on a fairly limited budget compared to the defense budgets of other countries. As such, they appear to be prioritizing their research efforts, especially in the drone and counter-drone space, to align with technologies that are finding success on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield. The DRDO has a long history of drone development efforts, having built a diverse fleet of autonomous vehicles that leverage domestic, commercial technology. The drones range from the Trinetra, a small quadcopter with advanced sensing and autonomy, to the Rustom, a larger fixed-wing aircraft capable of carrying various payloads. The DRDO is transitioning these drones into products for the Indian military, while further developing them to have new capabilities. In the past year, the Indian army placed an order for 700 Trinetra drones. Meanwhile, the DRDO is continuing the development of the Archer-NG, the newest variant of the Rustom, which has reported range of 1,000 km with a payload capacity of 300 kg. More recently, the DRDO has been testing glide bombs, a variant of drone technology that has been used extensively by Russia in their missile strike campaigns. In early April, the DRDO successfully tested two glide bombs. The first, the Gaurav, which was developed with industry partners, is reported to have a range of 100 km and a weight of 1,000 kg. The second glide bomb, the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, has a similar range, but is smaller, only weighing 125 kg. However, it uses advanced optics for increased accuracy with a focus on striking airfields. According to both reports, the glide bombs successfully hit their targets. While air-based drones have shaped much of the current conflict, Ukraine has also demonstrated the strategic value of water-based drones, which have limited Russian operations in the Black Sea. The DRDO has followed suit, with its Naval Science and Technology Laboratory testing the High Endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HEAUV) in a lake in late March. The HEAUV is 10 meters long, weighs six tons, and carries a payload of advanced sensors. It is designed for 15 days of endurance at a cruising speed of 3 knots. The tests showed that the HEAUV could successfully navigate both underwater and on the surface. Once further testing is complete, the HEAUV will likely be used by the Indian Navy to monitor their maritime borders. With the rise of drone technology, there has been a corresponding push in counter-drone technology. Both Russia and Ukraine have deployed a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic solutions to neutralize aerial threats. Similarly, the DRDO maintains a broad portfolio of counter-drone efforts, encompassing both types of systems. These technologies are at varying stages of technical maturity, with two recently reaching the testing phase. In February, the Research Centre Imarat, a DRDO laboratory, tested the Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD), a comparable system to the Igla-S, which the Russian military uses extensively to counter low-flying aerial threats. The VSHORAD is a man-portable system intended to engage drones, helicopters, and low-flying aircraft at a range up to 6 km using an infrared-homing missile. In the test, the VSHORAD successfully intercepted multiple small, low-signature drones. While conventional systems remain effective, both Russia and Ukraine are advancing new counter-drone technologies as well. One of Ukraine's most recent innovations is the Tryzub, a laser weapon designed to shoot down aerial threats. India has taken a similar approach. In mid-April, the DRDO tested the Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon system, which uses radar and electro-optical sensors to track low-flying targets, including quadcopters and helicopters. Once a target is identified, a 30-kilowatt laser delivers structural damage to disable the aircraft. The system was developed by the DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences, with support from Indian industry and academic institutions. It was successfully tested earlier this month, shooting down a small Chinese-manufactured drone. The Russia-Ukraine War is highlighting the fast-paced future of defense technology, particularly in the drone and counter-drone sectors. While the United States, Russia, and China have long dominated many military systems, this field has seen a broader range of countries rapidly developing new capabilities. India is emerging as a key player. Recent testing by the DRDO shows India's ability to quickly develop critical drone and counter-drone technologies that have found success on the modern battlefield. As these systems mature, they will equip Indian forces and potentially support foreign military sales, boosting India's presence in the global arms market. More broadly, these efforts will strengthen India's defense industrial base, allowing India to position itself to be a more self-reliant and agile force in the evolving global defense landscape.
Middle East Eye
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel to confiscate a thousand hectares of Palestinian land in West Bank
The Israeli army issued two edicts on 10 February to confiscate more than 10,000 dunums (1,000 hectares) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. Referred to as 'temporary military decisions", the army is targeting 8,734 dunums in the Tubas areas and 2,394 dunums in several villages east of Ramallah. The text of the two orders stated that they were issued by Yossi Segal, the official responsible for government property and absentee property in the West Bank, to approve a temporary decision on government lands for the purpose of grazing. Recently, Israeli settlers have seized large areas of land in the West Bank under the pretext of grazing their livestock. To impose de facto control, they release cows and sheep into the plains and mountains, control them, and prevent Palestinians from reaching them. Pastoral settlement constitutes one of the most serious challenges to Palestinians looking to preserve their land. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Najeh Rustom, mayor of Kafr Malek, east of Ramallah, told Middle East Eye that he had received a decision to confiscate at least 1,500 dunams of the town's land. He explained that these lands were used by the local community, which had cultivated various crops on them before the Israeli army shut off access to the land following the Hamas-led 7 October attack and the subsequent war on Gaza. 'Little by little, we became unable to reach this area, which was also inhabited by dozens of Bedouin families, but the settlers expelled them from it months ago with their attacks,' Rustom said. One settler with some sheep and cows controls the area, as well as others in neighboring villages against which a confiscation order has been issued, such as Deir Jarir, Abu Falah, and al-Mughayer. The Israeli army has protected settlers during their incursion into these lands and prevented Palestinians from getting there. An official confiscation decision was recently issued, initially under the pretext of grazing, but it is believed that the reason will be changed to another, such as the conversion of lands into a nature reserve or military zone. 'The settlers deprived us of our grazing and agricultural areas. We used to depend on livestock for our livelihood, but now we only graze them between our homes and many were forced to sell them due to the lack of pastures despite the vast areas they own,' Rustom explained. Expanding settlers' control The Palestinians believe that these confiscation decisions are merely a prelude to an accelerated annexation process, which Israel seeks to complete this year. "Israel's decision to confiscate thousands of dunums comes as a continuation of its expansionist policies in this region, which has been subjected to a fierce settlement attack for years," activist Arif Daraghmeh, from Tubas, told MEE. 'Banality of evil': Artist turns Gaza settler dream into disturbing installation Read More » He said that 42 settlements and settlement outposts were now established in the Jordan Valley area, and that 83 percent of its area has come under Israeli control, whether in settlements, military areas, or pastoral areas. 'These lands, before a decision was issued to confiscate them, were closed to the Palestinians under various pretexts, and they meant complete control over the eastern regions of the northern Jordan Valley,' he said. Four pastoral settlement outposts were established by settlers over the past two years on these lands, which indicates that the Israeli army is in harmony with the settlers' desires to control any area. 'Israel handed over the settlement council in the West Bank to seize it without any deterrent. These lands will be a prelude to expanding the settlers' control over all of the Jordan Valley,' he said.
