Unmanned drones to bolster security of India’s west coast

The western naval command of the Indian Navy would get its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron commissioned at Porbandar on Monday, bolstering India’s coastal security.

The UAV squadron is said to have a fleet of unmanned Israeli Searchers and Heron aircraft. They will be controlled from the UAV station being set up at Porbandar.

The UAVs will be used for Medium Range Long Endurance (MRLE) operations in the seas and carry out surveillance and monitoring operations with a capacity to fly continuously for up to 50 hours and at altitudes of up to 35,000 feet.

The payload of these aircraft would be around 250kg. The drones can also be used on the high seas, as they can be controlled from warships.

The UAVs would navigate using a GPS system and the flight would be pre-progarmmed. The take-offs and landings can be controlled manually too.

The surveillance and monitoring would be done using sensors, infrared and visible light surveillance systems. Radars installed in the aircraft will be used to identify objects in the sea and also on ground.

The payload sensors would send real-time information to the control station using data links or via satellites. The information will help operators take action during emergencies or for sea rescue.

A senior defence personnel said, “UAV and drones like the Searcher and Heron aircraft are useful for conducting reconnaissance, as they can fly for long hours if the payload is less. If the UAV is carrying only communication devices and has gone intelligence gathering, it can fly along the Gujarat-Maharashtra coastline and over the high seas.”

The Indian Navy got its first UAV squadron a few years ago at the southern naval command headquarters in Kochi.

The governor of Gujarat will be the chief guest for the commissioning function at Porbandar on Monday.