India Scouts For HALE UAVs

The Ministry of Defence has put out a Request for Information (RFI) to initiate the procurement of an unspecified number of High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The RFI specifies that the companies interested in bidding for the contract should field UAVs with a minimum baseline capability configuration of 35,000-feet ceiling altitude, 24-hour endurance, 250-km direct line-of-sight data link, 350-km relay line-of-sight data link and with a SATCOM capability.

The RFI’s system overview specifies that the package should contain day and night sensor payloads, ground/aerial data relay terminals, mobile receiving stations and intra-communication systems. The RFI specifies that the fielded UAVs must demonstrate profiles including (but not limited to) all-weather day/night reconnaisance of area, axis or point, transmission of radar/IR charge couple device imagery pictures of a benchmark (to be decided) resolution, real-time engagement of targets by directing artillery fire, and as a communication relay platform to facilitate multimode and multiband communication over a wide area.

Detailing the payload requirements, the RFI lists out electro-optical payloads, laser designator of terminal homing projectiles, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), payload for electronic and communication intelligence and radar warning.

The Indian forces currently operate IAI Heron and Searcher-II UAVs.