Talking
about the secretive AURA (autonomous unmanned research
aircraft) programme for the first time, Defence Research
and Development Organization (DRDO) told TOI that the
aim is to develop the UCAVs for Indian Air Force in seven
to eight years.
"With
50 million rupees of budget, a full-fledged project team
with 15-18 scientists has already begun work on the UCAV's
preliminary design and technology. With on-board mission
computers, data links, fire control radars, identification
of friend or foe, and traffic collision avoidance systems,
they will be highly intelligent drones," DRDO's chief
controller R&D (aeronautics) Dr Prahlada said.
"Capable
of flying at altitudes of 9,200 m and weighing less than
15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the
missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions)
they will carry," he added.
The
realisation that UCAVs are "game-changers in modern-day
warfare" has been reinforced by the successful use
of American 'Predator' and 'Reaper' drones, armed with
Hellfire and other missiles, against the Taliban in the
Af-Pak region.
