Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering
Munitions.” This strategic initiative, released by Lieutenant General Rahul R
Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (CD&S), outlines the military’s
long-term capability requirements for unmanned platforms and precision strike
systems, reported ET Defence.
The primary objective of this roadmap is to provide the domestic industry,
academia, and research sectors with clear guidance on future requirements. By
doing so, the Army aims to drive indigenous innovation in strict alignment
with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The framework details requirements for thirty distinct types of unmanned
aerial systems and loitering munitions. These platforms are designed to cover
a broad spectrum of operations, including surveillance, strike, air defence
support, special roles, and logistics.
According to officials, the framework is expected to eventually generate
nearly eighty different variants to suit diverse terrains and specific
operational needs. To assist developers, the document includes granular
details such as system specifications, expected life cycles, approximate
quantities, and specific variant configurations.
| Category | Subcategory / System |
|---|---|
| Surveillance systems | High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) |
| Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) | |
| High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) | |
| Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS) | |
| Unmanned aerial systems for long-range surveillance | |
| Unmanned aerial systems for medium-range surveillance | |
| Unmanned aerial systems for short-range surveillance | |
| Tethered drones for surveillance | |
| Loitering munitions | Long-range loitering munition |
| Medium-range loitering munition | |
| Short-range loitering munition | |
| Swarm drones (surveillance and strike roles) | |
| FPV drones with strike capability | |
| Low-cost loitering munition | |
| Air defence role systems | Drone-on-drone systems |
| Drones for anti-swarm roles | |
| Aircraft/helicopter emulator systems (UALS) | |
| Special role systems | Mother–child configuration UAS |
| Hunter–killer configuration UAS | |
| MUM-T systems for helicopters and armoured fighting vehicles | |
| Weapon-mounted UAS | |
| UAS for survey roles | |
| Mine-dispensing UAS | |
| Swarm drones as smart mines | |
| UAS-based jammers | |
| UAS for data relay | |
| Nano drones | |
| Munition delivery systems (guided and unguided bombs, ULPGMs) | |
| Logistics systems | Logistic UAS / UALS |
| Long-range logistic haulers |
In the realm of surveillance, the Army is seeking a tiered approach ranging
from High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) and Medium Altitude Long Endurance
(MALE) systems to High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS).
The requirements also encompass Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance
Systems (MAPSS), alongside various systems for long-range, medium-range, and
short-range surveillance, including tethered drones for static monitoring.
The roadmap places significant emphasis on loitering munitions to enhance
precision strike capabilities. This includes long, medium, and short-range
munitions, as well as swarm drones capable of both surveillance and strike
roles.
Furthermore, the Army is looking to integrate First Person View (FPV) drones
with strike capabilities and low-cost loitering munitions to ensure
cost-effective saturation of the battlefield.
For air defence, the Army is prioritising drone-on-drone systems and
specialised drones designed for anti-swarm roles. The plan also includes
aircraft or helicopter emulator systems, known as UALS, to assist in air
defence training and deception.
Special role systems form a major part of the future fleet, featuring
sophisticated mother–child and hunter–killer configurations, alongside
Man-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) systems for helicopters and armoured fighting
vehicles.
The special roles category further extends to weapon-mounted UAS, survey
drones, and platforms capable of mine-dispensing or acting as smart mines
within a swarm. To dominate the electromagnetic spectrum, the Army intends to
deploy UAS-based jammers and data relay drones.
The list also includes nano drones for covert operations and various munition
delivery systems for both guided and unguided bombs, as well as Universal
Logistics Precision Guided Munitions (ULPGMs).
Finally, the roadmap addresses the critical need for logistics systems to
support troops in remote areas. This involves the development of logistic UAS
and long-range logistic haulers to automate and secure the supply chain.
By collaborating with domestic bodies like the Drone Federation of India and
the Army Design Bureau, the Indian Army intends to accelerate the development
of these next-generation systems to counter evolving threats in future
warfare.
ET Defence
