Major General CS Mann, Additional Director General (ADG) of Army Design Bureau (ADB), on Tuesday urged the defence industry to take up the major challenge of developing drones that meet tough operational conditions at the high-altitude areas, including reduced performance of machines and frequent drying up of batteries that drive the unmanned systems.
Speaking on “Advancing the Drone Ecosystem Towards Viksit Bharat” — a topic at PHDCCI’s Bharat Drone Manthan -2.0 — Major General Mann stated that the industry will gradually be able to meet the requirement and improve drone performance in the battlefields where terrain conditions are very different.
Batteries dry out very fast due to the peculiarities of the Himalayas and the varied atmosphere. The machine’s performance goes down by 50 per cent, so drone stability is crucial in these challenging situations, the ADG of ADB said..
Talking about the long term perspective, he stated “Our military goal is to have a drone for every soldier and establish drone incubation hubs at all military stations.”
“In the recent Ukraine-Russia conflict, drones became a game changer in warfare tactics due to their capability, flexibility, and versatility in operations. Tanks have their own relevance, but the capability of drones is significant, and we need to use them for target strikes and precision attacks. Electronic warfare serves purposes such as communication, diffusion, and reconnaissance of areas affected by chemical and radiological effects. Not just in warfare, but also in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, drones dominate as a low-cost platform. Further, enhanced effectiveness due to AI or swarming is another advantage”, he stated on drone technology.
Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, informed that the private sector demand is not picking up at the same pace, despite it being the biggest contributor to GDP. He further urged that the sector must recognise its potential.
Expressing confidence that the drone industry is poised for a quantum leap and has an immense revenue potential, Srivastava stated that the government rules for UAV exports have been relaxed to promote indigenisation for development and security requirements.
He, however, requested everyone to ensure that regulations are not flouted. When we request an exemption, it should be for a genuine reason and not a commercial one, the Senior Economic Advisor emphasised.
Shekhar Dutt, Member IIPA and former Deputy National Security Advisor during the UPA regime, called for regulations for drones weighing less than 250 grams which, as of now, do not need permits or approval. We should evaluate whether this can be regulated, as such drones can be misused for offensive capabilities, he emphasised.
