(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) Security Scan: Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

Topic: Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

Expert:

Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (Retd.), Addl Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies)
Lt Gen BS Pawar (Retd.), (Aerospace Defence Expert)
Sudhi Ranjan Sen, (Senior Editor, Hindustan Times)

Topic Description:

In a first, advanced Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) will be manufactured in India, with leading aeronautical entity Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) set to formalise a partnership with an Israeli firm that specializes in autonomous weaponry. The advanced Heron TP, which belongs to the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class with an endurance of over 36 hours, will be manufactured to cater both to Indian requirements for a combat UAV and possibly exports to third nations in the future as well. According to a report in the Economic Times, HAL is set to sign a partnership pact with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the on-going DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow this week, with estimates that in the Indian market alone, there is a requirement of at least 100 drones of this type. The Heron TP is an advanced version of the Heron UAVs that are currently in service with the three forces in a reconnaissance role.