Indian Navy Pursues Long-Range, Jet-Powered UAVs to Enhance Indian Ocean Surveillance

The Indian Navy is setting its sights on developing long-range, jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enhance its surveillance capabilities across the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

This initiative reflects a broader strategy to bolster maritime domain awareness and improve the Navy's ability to monitor naval activities in the region, ensuring quicker reaction times to emerging situations.

While the Navy is already in the process of acquiring MQ-9 Reaper drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, officials are also exploring larger, jet-powered unmanned platforms to address limitations in operational speed and range.

A naval official highlighted the drawbacks of current High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UAVs powered by turboprop engines. While these UAVs excel at persistent monitoring, they lack the speed needed to quickly reach distant areas of interest within the IOR.

To achieve the desired capabilities, the Navy plans to collaborate with Indian defence and aerospace companies to conceptualize and develop HALE-class UAVs powered by jet or turbofan engines.

The Navy's specific requirements for these advanced UAVs include:

• Extended range: The UAVs must possess the range to cover the vast distances across the IOR.
• High speed: Jet propulsion will enable rapid deployment and reduce reaction times to events unfolding across the region.
• Advanced ISR capabilities: The UAVs must be equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and communication systems to provide real-time intelligence.

Indian defence and aerospace companies, both state-owned and private sector players, are expected to be key partners in this development program. Collaboration with international technology providers may also be considered to accelerate development and ensure access to cutting-edge technologies.

The IOR's growing geostrategic importance, coupled with the increasing presence of foreign naval forces, underscores the need for advanced ISR platforms.

The ability to maintain comprehensive and real-time situational awareness across the region is crucial for India's maritime security and power projection capabilities. The development of these long-range, jet-powered UAVs will be a significant step towards achieving that goal.

 

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[The Presence]

Making a HALE UAV like MQ-4C Triton will require a 40 kN Turbofan Engine.

Derating Dry Kaveri (52 kN) will do the job.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Making a HALE UAV like MQ-4C Triton will require a 40 kN Turbofan Engine.

Derating Dry Kaveri (52 kN) will do the job.

Two nos HTFE-25 also can do the job

 

[Leo red]

We need large distance covering turbo engine uavs for long range cover which should include strike option on small ships. Which can carry small kamikaze drones to cover 20km radius. Atleast 20 at time.

 

[The Presence]

Two nos HTFE-25 also can do the job

2 engines will take more space and increase weight. Also this HTFE is program is very shady, hardly hear any news about it's progress.

It's much better to integrate a derated Kaveri since it's single engine certified.

 

[Sandeep]

The best option is waiting until they develop the UCAV Ghatak which can be armed and used for surveillance. That engine is powerful enough to travel very long distances in a short amount of time.

 

[R. Singh]

Indian Navy should buy MQ-4 Sea Hawk !