IAF to Procure Kamikaze Swarm Drones: Signs Contract With Indian Start-up

IAF to Procure Kamikaze Swarm Drones: On August 14, the Indian Air Force signed a Rs 300 crore contract with an Indian defence start-up for 200 swarm drones. This is the Indian Air Force’s first contract for swarm drones.

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IAF to Procure Kamikaze Swarm Drones

The ‘Swarm-Unmanned Munition Systems’ (S-UMS) are jet-powered catapult-launched drones developed by Noida-based Veda Aeronautics Pvt Ltd. The IAF’s S-UMS will allow for pinpoint strikes on heavily fortified enemy airbases, camps, and important installations without putting human fighter aircraft in danger. The drones will be delivered within a year.

This is the single largest order ever given by the Indian government to a startup for unmanned technology. Drones have been used on a large scale by both sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia has attacked Ukrainian targets with hundreds of Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze UAVs and their local equivalent.

The IAF has learned a lot during Europe’s bloodiest conflict in 78 years. It discovered the ‘Sureshastra-Mark 1’, an Indian variant of the Shahed-136 and the Geran-2, created by the Indian drone startup Veda Aeronautics.

Kamikaze Swarm Drones: Specifications

The Indian drone measures 3.5 metres in length, has a wingspan of three metres and carries an explosive warhead payload. It is catapult-launched and weighs almost 90 kg when completely loaded. Each drone has a range of more than 150 kilometres and is meant to carry out long-range strikes in collaboration with other drones by flying to pre-programmed targets using satellite navigation signals. Future drone variations will have longer ranges and may be vehicle-launched or ship-launched.

This technology could offer crucial assets travelling with mobile army units with frontline protection. The Indian army is looking for a Medium Range Precision Kill system with a range of 60-80 kilometres.

The contract was awarded by the IAF following a lengthy series of user testing in the Thar desert. The Delhi-based company was one of the participants in the 2018 Meher Baba swarm drone competition. The challenge was created to find Indian firms that could supply the IAF with swarming drones.

Kamikaze Swarm Drones: Significance

Drones are widely used for overt and covert warfare by India’s rivals, China and Pakistan. Since 2020, Pakistani drones have been used to transport narcotics, weapons, and ammunition into border regions including Punjab and Rajasthan. Pakistan has also increased its military drone capability by introducing Turkish and Chinese-made drones.

Since the deployment of troops in Ladakh in 2020, China has deployed reconnaissance and cargo drones along the LAC with India. The Indian Army is looking for counter-drone technologies after reports of palm-sized drones being placed near the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.

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