DRDO UXOR: The Indian Air Force will soon acquire robots capable of defusing bombs weighing up to 1,000 kg that have not exploded. After Pakistan’s retaliation for the Balakot airstrike, the air force targeted Indian military installations and dropped bombs that remained unexploded and posed a hazard.
Unexploded Ordnance Handling Robot (UXOR)
The Unexploded Ordnance Handling Robot (UXOR) was not officially admitted into the Indian Air Force, but it was utilised to disarm the explosives, according to sources. The robot was created in-house by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is currently on show at the Defence Expo in Lucknow.
After undergoing multiple testing, the IAF is now in the process of purchasing these robots. “In trials conducted at various locations and under varying conditions, the Unexploded Ordnance Handling Robot (UXOR) met all operational requirements.” “The IAF will induct 11 robots for operational objectives,” R&DE(E) director Makarand Joshi told TOI. “We have licenced the technology to three industry partners, who will manufacture these robots and supply them to the IAF in the coming years.”
“We have done a number of trials from the Indian Air Force and validated the requirements for defusing bombs at various locations,” DRDO scientist Alok Mukherjee, who was part of the designing team, said. A remotely operated robot can disarm a UXO from a distance of 1km. “It includes an abrasive water jet cutting machine.” It is equipped with two manipulator arms. “One is for handling heavy UXOs, and the other is for safely cutting the fuse of the UXOs,” Joshi explained.
The IAF desired the robot because there are regions along the border where UXOs have remained unexploded, posing a hazard to defence infrastructure. The robots are controlled from a mobile command centre and eliminate the need for humans to disarm bombs, making them a crucial tool in the future.
“These robots are remotely controlled from a distance of 2 km.” “Using high-pressure water jets, the operator can locate and defuse the explosive,” Alok Mukherjee explained. UXOR features good cross-country mobility and a six-hour endurance rating.
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