Drones to give Indian artillery eyes beyond enemy lines, battle ready guns for winters on China border
India Today
Battle-ready artillery guns will operate in the peak harsh winters of Ladakh at 15,000 feet, deploying UAVs for better surveillance to ensure precision strikes are some of the key measures to ramp up the Indian Army’s firepower in the wake of the Chinese threat.
The Indian Army has inducted the Dhanush Gun system, K-9 Vajra, Ultra Light Howitzers along the China frontier, giving a push to artillery capabilities. In addition, deployments of modern rocket systems, like Pinaka, have added a punch to the long range capability of the army's firepower, sources in the defence establishment said.
To enhance the accuracy and efficacy of artillery firepower there are plans to have UAVs that will add capabilities to look across. Sources said they are looking at 15-20 km in the short range category with an endurance of 75-120 minutes.
“The Smerch rocket launcher system has a range of 90 km and Pinaka's extended range is 75 km, so we must have the capability to observe post-strike damage to 70-90 km,” said a source privy to the information.
The drone will have vertical take-off and landing capability, not needing a runway.
Also Read | Indian Army enhances its military capabilities, inducts swarm drone systems
India has deployed the Pinaka and Smerch rocket launcher systems along the China borders.
The forward deployed ground based observation systems at the Line of Actual Control and Line of Control have a 5-6 km range and are restricted to the hill features, sources added. “These UAVs have not been procured yet, but work is in progress and consultations are at a progressive stage,” the source added.
