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http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...ist-troops-their-eye-in-the-sky/1/273504.html
Despite the gloom surrounding the state of anti-Maoist operations, there appears to be glimmer of hope for the security forces operating across central and eastern India. After suffering repeated reverses on account of lack of intelligence, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) - tasked by Home Secretary R.K. Singh with creating a fleet of UAVs - has finalised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-built 'Nishant' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In fact, in the last week, CPRF's Inspector General for Provisioning Dr N.C. Asthana submitted a five page proposal to acquire the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Most importantly from the operational point of view, the DRDO has offered to deploy at least two of these long-range UAVs in the anti-Maoist theatre with immediate effect. In the anti-Maoist operations, these UAVs play a key role in extracting technical and human intelligence. Additionally, these UAVs can forewarn troops by relaying real-time information about the terrain, location of hostile troops as well as that of natural obstacles.
The criticality of this acquisition can be better understood by contrasting this with the present situation where the National Technological Research Organisation (NTRO) flies just one UAV over the entire theatre comprising nine affected states! In the past, the MHA and CRPF have both complained about the restricted reach and capability of the Israeli Heron UAV which the NTRO owns. Annoyed over the NTRO's inability to improve its service, despite repeated efforts, in October 2012, Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh tasked the CRPF with creating an independent fleet of UAVs 'to reduce our dependency on NTRO/Indian Air Force etc'.
According to documents accessed, the CRPF has indicated the need for 16 Nishant UAVs for deployment in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar. In response the DRDO has promised to expedite the production, in conjunction with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to complete the delivery of all 16 along with their Ground Support systems within 15 months from the date of placing a formal order.
"These UAVs will be a shot in the arm for us. For the last six months, we have been scouting for the right system across the world, only to realise that Nishant is a suitable platform for us." He added, "It is not only easily available as it is a DRDO-made, indigenous platform but also is a wonderful system because it does not require a runway and the entire added infrastructure which NTRO UAV does," said a senior MHA officer.
Since the Nishant is at present configured for the Indian Army requirements, the DRDO will re-configure specifications to suit the CRPF's requirements.
Responding to the CRPF, in a letter dated May 13, 2013, DRDO chief, Dr V.K. Saraswat wrote to Director General CRPF, Pranay Sahay, promising to expedite the delivery of the entire system along with there being a 'reasonableness of the final cost projected by the HAL.'
Where is the proposal now?
The CRPF has already forwarded its specifications on the optical and thermal imagery front, which it expects out of Nishant to the DRDO, which has in turn forwarded the same to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for a final costing, which will be submitted to the MHA for its nod, prior to acquisition.
How was Nishant finalised upon?
Nishant was not only readily available but also being produced DRDO, the acquisition would be easier. A CRPF note to MHA of March 2013, mentioned, "..the purchase of the UAV through global tender will take considerable time and wet-leasing is rather doubtful. Meanwhile casualties will continue. Since we do not have too many options, MHA may consider purchasing DRDO's Nishant. The system is robust and mobile."
Additionally, the Project Director of Nishant, Ashok Rangan, in a communication to CRPF in February 2013, informed, "Nishant was developed based on GSQR issued by Indian Army for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance purpose during day/night. System has undergone user trials and successfully evaluated by Indian Army under extreme weather conditions."
Where Nishant scores?
According to the DRDO, Nishant is a highly mobile, compact and easily deployable system and can undertake day/night battle field reconnaissance, surveillance, target tracking and localization. With an endurance capacity of over five hours, it can attain maximum speed of 185 km per hour.
UAVs in CRPF
While the CRPF already uses number of micro-UAV Netra and will soon float tenders for ten small UAVs, the segment of Medium Altitude Long Range (MALE) was vacant. The NTRO's inability further fuelled the MHA & CRPF to acquire these UAVs. However, they soon found the process of spelling out the Qualitative Requirements (QRs) time-consuming. That is when at Aero India show in February 2013 at Bangalore, the CRPF team came across the Nishant UAV.
Despite the gloom surrounding the state of anti-Maoist operations, there appears to be glimmer of hope for the security forces operating across central and eastern India. After suffering repeated reverses on account of lack of intelligence, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) - tasked by Home Secretary R.K. Singh with creating a fleet of UAVs - has finalised the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-built 'Nishant' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In fact, in the last week, CPRF's Inspector General for Provisioning Dr N.C. Asthana submitted a five page proposal to acquire the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Most importantly from the operational point of view, the DRDO has offered to deploy at least two of these long-range UAVs in the anti-Maoist theatre with immediate effect. In the anti-Maoist operations, these UAVs play a key role in extracting technical and human intelligence. Additionally, these UAVs can forewarn troops by relaying real-time information about the terrain, location of hostile troops as well as that of natural obstacles.
The criticality of this acquisition can be better understood by contrasting this with the present situation where the National Technological Research Organisation (NTRO) flies just one UAV over the entire theatre comprising nine affected states! In the past, the MHA and CRPF have both complained about the restricted reach and capability of the Israeli Heron UAV which the NTRO owns. Annoyed over the NTRO's inability to improve its service, despite repeated efforts, in October 2012, Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh tasked the CRPF with creating an independent fleet of UAVs 'to reduce our dependency on NTRO/Indian Air Force etc'.
According to documents accessed, the CRPF has indicated the need for 16 Nishant UAVs for deployment in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar. In response the DRDO has promised to expedite the production, in conjunction with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to complete the delivery of all 16 along with their Ground Support systems within 15 months from the date of placing a formal order.
"These UAVs will be a shot in the arm for us. For the last six months, we have been scouting for the right system across the world, only to realise that Nishant is a suitable platform for us." He added, "It is not only easily available as it is a DRDO-made, indigenous platform but also is a wonderful system because it does not require a runway and the entire added infrastructure which NTRO UAV does," said a senior MHA officer.
Since the Nishant is at present configured for the Indian Army requirements, the DRDO will re-configure specifications to suit the CRPF's requirements.
Responding to the CRPF, in a letter dated May 13, 2013, DRDO chief, Dr V.K. Saraswat wrote to Director General CRPF, Pranay Sahay, promising to expedite the delivery of the entire system along with there being a 'reasonableness of the final cost projected by the HAL.'
Where is the proposal now?
The CRPF has already forwarded its specifications on the optical and thermal imagery front, which it expects out of Nishant to the DRDO, which has in turn forwarded the same to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for a final costing, which will be submitted to the MHA for its nod, prior to acquisition.
How was Nishant finalised upon?
Nishant was not only readily available but also being produced DRDO, the acquisition would be easier. A CRPF note to MHA of March 2013, mentioned, "..the purchase of the UAV through global tender will take considerable time and wet-leasing is rather doubtful. Meanwhile casualties will continue. Since we do not have too many options, MHA may consider purchasing DRDO's Nishant. The system is robust and mobile."
Additionally, the Project Director of Nishant, Ashok Rangan, in a communication to CRPF in February 2013, informed, "Nishant was developed based on GSQR issued by Indian Army for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance purpose during day/night. System has undergone user trials and successfully evaluated by Indian Army under extreme weather conditions."
Where Nishant scores?
According to the DRDO, Nishant is a highly mobile, compact and easily deployable system and can undertake day/night battle field reconnaissance, surveillance, target tracking and localization. With an endurance capacity of over five hours, it can attain maximum speed of 185 km per hour.
UAVs in CRPF
While the CRPF already uses number of micro-UAV Netra and will soon float tenders for ten small UAVs, the segment of Medium Altitude Long Range (MALE) was vacant. The NTRO's inability further fuelled the MHA & CRPF to acquire these UAVs. However, they soon found the process of spelling out the Qualitative Requirements (QRs) time-consuming. That is when at Aero India show in February 2013 at Bangalore, the CRPF team came across the Nishant UAV.
