Army Will Acquire 850 Indigenous Kamikaze Drones Worth Rs 2000 Crore
The Indian Army, in a move to improve its military prowess, will acquire 850 kamikaze drones worth Rs 2000 crore. Leveraging lessons from India's ‘O
As part of efforts to improve the surveillance competencies of the Indian Army, it placed an order for the Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS) from NewSpace Research & Technologies, a Bengaluru-based start-up developing multiple programmes in Next Generation Mission & Technologies for aerospace and defence, military and civilian use.
MAPSS is a solar-powered, fully electric UAV. The induction of this system will improve the security forces' border surveillance capabilities by providing persistent, high-resolution Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance coverage along India's vast and diverse borders, enabling instantaneous threat detection without recurrent refuelling.
NRT platforms can function from 5km to 20 km with diverse endurance. This will mark the first deployment of solar-powered surveillance drones by the Indian armed forces, substituting the battery-powered, tethered drones presently in use.
As stated by The Print, the order, worth Rs 168 crore, originates from the Innovations for Defence Excellence programme of the defence ministry.
The solar-powered durability enables the lightweight MAPSS to remain on station for days in remote regions, such as Ladakh or Rajasthan, offering constant monitoring of troop movements, smuggling or incursions with minimal logistical support.
Its low acoustic and thermal signatures help avoid detection by enemy sensors, making MAPSS highly suitable for forward operations in border regions where manned platforms or short-endurance drones are ineffective.
“The drone will offer long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic intelligence and communications relay support.”
Source: The Week
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