There is a need for urgent dialogue within the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Civil Aviation for ensuring collision avoidance and hassle-free traffic management, especially when the UAVs would be used in the hinterland for civilian or internal security applications

Last month was very encouraging for the indigenously developed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) ‘Netra’, as it was inducted by the Indian paramilitary forces for reconnaissance and surveillance roles. Currently, this lightweight 1.5 kg four bladed UAV made of carbon composites has a radius of action of 200 metres and loiter time of 30 minutes. But the next version with longer duration is already under development. This collaborative effort of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a private firm Idea-Forge Private Ltd, formed by IIT alumni, is an encouraging news for India’s quest for self-reliance in the defence sector.

Then on, December 17, 2011, came the news of 3,500 lbs of cargo being supplied by the US developed Kaman K-MAX unmanned helicopter, to a Marine’s combat outpost ‘Payne’ in Afghanistan. While the US grapples with problems of increasing numbers of causalities due to IED and continuing ambushes of road convoys, such remotely piloted platforms will find greater use in this theatre of war. It is also estimated that the cost of the operating K-MAX is approximately $1,100 per hour, which is considerably lower than its manned counterpart.

As for the increasingly versatile roles of UAV, there is news that by July 2012, the London skyline will have another ‘eye in the sky’. To assist the unprecedented security arrangements being undertaken for the 30th Summer Olympics, London police will be deploying UAVs to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. The 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi had also witnessed UAV deployment by the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) against the perceived airborne attack by militants using paragliders.

In a recent interview, the US President Barack Obama did not mince words in stating that regardless of the ongoing politico-military standoff, the US continues to carry out lethal UAV attacks on targets in Pakistan. In this context it is also important to note some key points from Obama’s January 5 address, outlining reshaping of the US military in the context of Vision 2020. While reiterating the need to maintain global military presence for crisis management, he has indicated reduction in the current US troops deployment from the European mainland. Since the Libyan crisis, the US has indicated its willingness to allow North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)/European partners to lead while the US would follow (lead from behind strategy); a policy in vast variation to all other crisis in recent history. The lean US presence is however expected to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and although not specifically mentioned, would heavily rely on the use of UAVs. Such shift in policy is in tune with reduced overseas commitment from the Central Command (CENTCOM) Theatre to Asia-Pacific. The higher reliance on UAVs would also mean less drain on the defence budget compared to deployment of manned platforms like F-35 and F-22. However, it must be borne in mind that the successful UAV/drone attacks in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region have been due to total air supremacy for the US with hardly any worry of active air defence measures. Nevertheless, newer stealthy UAVs with self-protection technologies are also being developed to permit their use in an active battle scenario.

What started as a remotely controlled ‘aerial target’ to practise gun or missile shooting by combat pilots and for the anti-aircraft gunners has rapidly developed into a multi-purpose platform; almost at the verge of replacing many roles that a traditional manned aircraft or a rotary wing platform has performed. Although UAVs cannot replace the onboard flexible decision-making by a pilot, their long endurance and ability to undertake ‘dull and boring’ missions such as surveillance, make their use in tandem, very obvious and attractive.

While complementary UAV roles for ISR and electronic support missions remained the major focus, a paradigm shift in their deployment came with the introduction of MQ-1Predator type of platforms capable of armed attacks. The United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have used these in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and in Yemen. The Chinese have also reportedly used indigenous armed UAVs in the troubled Uyghur region.

While the heart of the UAV is the payload, there have been rapid improvements made to both the airframe and power plants, which have enabled the UAVs to fly at much higher altitudes and also for longer durations such as the American RQ-4 Global Hawk. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has a programme, entitled ‘VULTURE’, an acronym for very-high altitude, ultra-endurance, loitering, theatre unmanned reconnaissance element. Under this programme, with solar power and lightweight carbon fibre airframe, Boeing is developing a UAV named Solar Eagle to fly continuously for five years. Then there are projects for flying close to stratosphere, which will increase loiter time considerably. Meanwhile efforts are also on to introduce mid-air refuelling for tactical use UAVs to increase their endurance and in turn the ‘continuous stare’ for effective surveillance.

Bandwidth for both control and up/down loading of data is another important element of these remotely operated platforms. Satellite aided communication has been the key for data transfer and to improve the range for remotely handling the UAVs. In India the Services are in the process of acquiring such connectivity, whereas the NTRO Heron UAVs have already incorporated such capability. This is one limiting factor that the Indian planners will need to take into account as the numbers and density of UAV operations increase in the Indian airspace.

Varied payloads have increased the utility and potential of UAVs to make them truly ubiquitous. Imaging itself has been enhanced with visual, infrared, near-infrared, radar and other electromagnetic sensors. Very shortly, imaging by microwave, ultra-violet and other frequencies including use of laser will enable imaging through foliage and other types of camouflage as well as inclement weather. Apart from using Hellfire types of missiles, the UAVs are being fitted with low charge carbon body bombs to reduce collateral damage. Payloads for ‘lasing’ a target for LGB attacks by combat aircraft are also a commonly used technique. Apart from the US Predator and Israeli Hermes armed UAVs, the Chinese have also configured ASN-229A UAV for armed attacks.