India is intensifying its efforts to ensure that military drones acquired from domestic private sector companies do not contain Chinese components. The Indian Army has scheduled a showcase of drone technologies in a high-altitude region of Ladakh later this month as part of this initiative.
The defense establishment is developing a stringent mechanism, including technical evaluation parameters, to prevent the inclusion of Chinese electronics in these drones. Major General C. S. Mann of the Army Design Bureau announced on Wednesday that various methods are being considered to reinforce this framework.
This move follows a recent decision by the defense ministry to halt an order for 200 medium-altitude logistics drones intended for deployment along the northern borders with China. The ministry required proof from the manufacturer that the drones did not incorporate Chinese parts.
The Ministry of Defense’s Department of Defense Production has also instructed industry bodies like Ficci, CII, and Assocham to alert and caution their members against procuring Chinese components for drones and related equipment.
In the context of ongoing military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh, which have persisted for five years, the Indian armed forces are expanding their drone procurement. This includes a variety of drones such as nano, mini, micro, kamikaze, logistics, armed swarms, and MALE (medium-altitude, long-endurance) and HALE (high-altitude, long-endurance) UAVs.
To address the unique challenges of high-altitude operations, the Army will host the ‘Him-Drone-A-Thon’ on September 17-18 at Wari La near Leh. “For drone operations, a rarefied atmosphere results in reduced lift and degraded engine performance, which are further accentuated by extreme cold temperatures and high wind speeds. These conditions are unique for the Indian Army and demand systems that can adequately perform in these conditions” he added
