The Indian army is testing a new jetpack that it hopes will provide its soldiers with a significant tactical advantage. According to reports, the jetpack can fly for up to an hour and reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. An image of an Indian Para SF Operator testing Gravity Industries’ Jet Pack in Agra recently surfaced online. Is this going to be the Indian Army’s new jetpack? According to recent reports, the Indian Army intends to purchase 40-50 packs for 4-5 crores each.
In January, the Indian Army issued a request for proposal (RFP) to procure 48 jet pack suits through emergency procurement via the fast track procedure (FTP) under the buy Indian category. The Indian Army will soon be outfitted with ‘jetpack suits’ in order to improve surveillance capabilities along border areas, including those with China.
Jetpack Suits- Increased Surveillance
The British company ‘Gravity Industries’ recently tested and demonstrated jetpack suits at the Army Airborne Training School (AATS) in Agra. Gravity Industries founder Richard Browning demonstrated the jetpack system to the Indian Army.
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According to the manufacturer, the jet suits are ideal for patrolling and surveillance missions. “The suits can be used in situations where vehicles are not accessible and waiting for a vehicle is not feasible,” he adds. This has the potential to transform relief and rescue missions.” The equipment, which is considered a game changer, has a range of 10 kilometers. “The individual will have the weight of the engines and battery, which is approximately 50 kgs,” the company stated.
The Indian Army is increasing tactical mobility in the face of border tensions with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Gravity Industries, a British company, is testing Jet Pack suits as part of one such initiative. The army issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in January 2023 to acquire 48 Jet Packs with modern propulsion systems such as turbine engines and electric and hybrid systems. The JetPack suit is a turbine-powered individual mobility platform that can safely lift a person across varied terrain.
Specifications and Importance
The Indian Army is currently collaborating with Richard Browning, the suit’s test pilot and the founder of Gravity Industries, to assess the performance of these suits. The evaluation is taking place in Agra, where the army is evaluating the suit’s ability to fly with an 80-kilogram payload and a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour. It should also be capable of operating in the desert, mountain, and high altitude conditions up to 3000 m.
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The Indian Army requires such JetPack suits due to ongoing border tensions with China since early 2020. The conflict reached a climax in June 2020, when a violent border clash erupted in Ladakh’s Galwan valley, killing 20 Indian Army soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers. China’s aggression continues, and in December 2022, Chinese and Indian soldiers clashed in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector. In addition, when Chinese drones attempted to enter Indian airspace, the Indian Air Force was forced to scramble fighter jets.
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