Army urgently seeks jetpack suits, robotic mules, tethered drones & jammers for deployment along China border
25 Jan 2023 10:26:28
New Delhi, Jan 25: In a bid to induct hi-tech equipment in its inventory, the Indian Army has issued three requests for proposals (RFPs) for the procurement of 48 jetpack suits, 130 tethered drone systems and 100 robotic mules under emergency procurement through Fast Track Procedure (FTP).
The acquisitions are planned to be done under the fast track procedures and have been issued under the emergency powers given by the government to the forces for tackling the situation on the China border. The products have to be built and supplied to the forces under Make in India provisions.
Notably, a Jet pack suit is a turbine-based individual mobility platform, which can lift a man safely from the surface in different terrain. Army has specified that the suit must provide controls for the safe ascent, safe descent, take-off and landing and movement in all directions.
On the other hand, the robotic mules are supposed to work at heights up to 10,000 feet altitude. They are required to be quadripedal robots (with four-legged) capable of autonomous movement across various terrain, self-recovery capability and with obstruction avoidance features. The robot must be able to move in uneven terrain and in moderate ascent and descend, the Army tender stated.
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In a bid to deal with drone intrusion along the borders with Pakistan, the Army also intended to purchase 20 drone jammers. The last date for submission of bids is February 10.
Speaking about the tethered drone system should consist of two aerial vehicles with combined EO/IR payloads, one portable ground control station, one tether station, one remote video terminal, one suitable generator set, one battery charger with a spare battery per drone and modular carrying system.
It must have a minimum indigenous content of 60 per cent. The aim of procuring these systems is to enhance the Indian Army’s surveillance capability beyond line of sight targets for prolonged periods. It should also be launched from untethered mode for a certain duration to obtain additional information or confirm intelligence inputs.
Once the deal is inked, the vendors will have to deliver the equipment in 12 months. A tethered drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle connected to the ground which can lift payloads, like cameras or radios/antennas among others.