Indian Military UAV Procurement Programs : General Discussions

randomradio said:
You should check the dimensions yourself. Reaper is longer because its engine is on the fuselage and has a main fuel tank at the back, all of which increases weight by a significant margin. Rustom 2 is light simply because its wings are light and is shorter.
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Rustom 2 is the one with extra weight from the original design. It was too bad that they had to go for an entirely new engine.

There is an aero india seminar video where the ADE program manager says why twin-boom was a mistake. Which led to weight increase and every issue comes with it.

randomradio said:
Where you put the avionics, the dimensions are similar, so both carry the same avionics payload.
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The total payload capacity of rustom-2 is 350kg while the same for MQ-9B is 2177kg !. The payload of rustom includes everything basic EO system.

Rustom-2%2BPoster.jpg


While the external payload capacity of MQ-9B is 1,800 kg. There is simply no comparison.

randomradio said:
Rustom-2 is basically a non-weaponised Reaper carrying the same avionics.
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No, non-weaponized Reaper with smaller and less capable sensors and avionics. Which is basically, MQ-1C ,

randomradio said:
Lynx is a very old radar, it's not AESA.
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You just claimed Rustom has an AESA radar and Seaguardian don't. I was expecting a source of that.

randomradio said:
The Predator drone is very small, it can't be compared with Rustom-2. It's powered by a small 115HP engine whereas Rustom-2 will have 2 220HP engines. Its avionics payload is 200Kg whereas Rustom-2's is 360 Kg, Reaper's is 390Kg.
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I didn't say predator, MQ-1C is called Gray Eagle used by US army. With a total payload of ~400kg with internal ~260kg. Rustom-2's max payload is 350kg which includes external.
 
Ashwin said:
Rustom 2 is the one with extra weight from the original design. It was too bad that they had to go for an entirely new engine.

There is an aero india seminar video where the ADE program manager says why twin-boom was a mistake. Which led to weight increase and every issue comes with it.


The total payload capacity of rustom-2 is 350kg while the same for MQ-9B is 2177kg !. The payload of rustom includes everything basic EO system.

Rustom-2%2BPoster.jpg


While the external payload capacity of MQ-9B is 1,800 kg. There is simply no comparison.


No, non-weaponized Reaper with smaller and less capable sensors and avionics. Which is basically, MQ-1C ,


You just claimed Rustom has an AESA radar and Seaguardian don't. I was expecting a source of that.


I didn't say predator, MQ-1C is called Gray Eagle used by US army. With a total payload of ~400kg with internal ~260kg. Rustom-2's max payload is 350kg which includes external.
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Oof.... Both Rustom-2 and Reaper have pretty much the same avionics payload capacity. I can't explain common sense.

Google Lynx radar and see for yourself.

Sure, Gray Eagle is better than vanilla Predator, but it's still inferior to the Rustom-2.
 
Tatvamasi said:
Because its 2022 ?
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Yes. 2022 has been very eventful right from the beginning.

India declaring the importance of strategic autonomy through self-reliance in defence production. The initiation of the National Hydrogen Mission that will make us energy independent.

2022 has been a very special year right away.

www.indiatoday.in

Govt cancels chopper, missile import deals under 'Make in India' push

The Ministry of Defence on Friday cancelled a number of import deals as part of the central government's 'Make in India' push.
www.indiatoday.in www.indiatoday.in
 
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STEPHEN COHEN said:
In Today's PC by Lt Gen Anil Puri , though it was regarding the Agnipath scheme ; he clearly mentioned that in future conflicts
A TANK will be killed by a Drone
Not by Another Tank
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In a armour vs armour battle tanks are still going to be there. The losses in Ukraine were not because the munitions penetrated the tank, but because either there was some mechanical issues or some part of the tank was disabled (canon of sight or something), resulting in the crew abandoning the vehicle. Very few vehicles have been actually destroyed.

And we now know that it's taking multiple javelins to take out single vehicle. It's not so easy.

Larger drones will be in effective against armour as they will be easy targets for mobile SAM.

But loitering munitions are very important. Not against tank, but against dismounted Infantry, engineering vehicles, communication equipment, Ammunition depots, etc.

At the start of a conflict, we will need 300-400 Klub type CMs to take out important targets, but will need 4000-5000 loitering munitions to soften up the closer to border military targets, along with rocket artillery.

Once pulverized, the armour formations can move inside.

Tanks are still here to stay.
 
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Poseidon said:
Unfortunate development.
MQ-9B is far superior especially in a maritime role.
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Unfortunate thing is that our labs are incapable of developing anything like predators by our own even in distant future. But i m glad that we are going with a co development, it will help us a lot in UAV R&D, judt like how Barak 8 program helped us in SAM development in india.
 
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The only thing which probably comes closer to Reaper(SeaGuardian) is the Heron TP. It's a difficult thing to do, that's why only 2 such systems are there.

Let's get to a point first of Herons or Predators. It's not that far away.
Poseidon said:
Unfortunate development.
MQ-9B is far superior especially in a maritime role.
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Navy will likely still go for Sea Guardian. While IAF and IA might go for few Heron TPs.
 
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In the IAf chiefs presentation it was mentioned IAF will procure ( aka possibly committed to procure ) 127 Tapas, Archer & Ghatak . This number was mentioned but there was no split that I could find.
IAF will also get 10 MQ9 (possible 10-10-10 split of the 30 to be procured deal maybe?) .

Edit: Found it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1564520238108282880

As per this, ghatak ucavs are definitely pretty far away timescale wise so no numbers are committed, not surprising. Archer/tapas are more ready for a recon role. No word on armament which possibly took a backburner. Would love to just arm with loitering ammo & drop bomb initially to just prove it functions & test in LOC recon.
 
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