Indian Army announces induction of swarm drones into mechanized forces

New Delhi, Aug 26: The Indian Army on Friday (Aug 26) said that swarm drones are being inducted into the mechanized forces, asserting that embracing “disruptive technologies” will give an edge to the armed forces in meeting future security challenges.

 

 

 

 

The Defence Ministry had in July approved procurement proposals worth over Rs 28,732 Cr for the armed forces including swarm drones. On the procurement of the armed swarm drones, the ministry said these are being acquired as drone technology has proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. The approval has come amid India’s simmering border row between India and China in eastern Ladakh.

 

“In the recent conflicts across the world, drone technology proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. Accordingly, to augment the Indian Army’s capability in modern warfare, AoN for procurement of autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarms has been accorded by the DAC under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category,” it said.

 

 

 

 

 

Botlab, a startup from IIT-Delhi, put up a drone show with nearly 1,000 drones, in the annual Beating the Retreat ceremony in January this year, to commemorate 75 years of the country’s Independence. India became the fourth country after China, Russia and the UK to carry out such a large scale show with 1,000 drones. The ‘drone swarms’ has become a new frontier in military operations, where several small drones in a coordinated manner are programmed to hit a target.

 

As per the reports of Times Now, earlier this month, the Indian Army signed a MoU with the Drone Federation of India to collaboratively work towards promoting research, development, testing and manufacturing of drones, counter-drone and associated technologies that can assist the Indian Army in its operations. The Drone Federation of India promotes the drone industry by bringing about policy change, creating business opportunities, developing a robust skilling infrastructure, facilitating technology and knowledge transfers, developing standards.