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NEW DELHI: In a major step forward, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to induct Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) for better surveillance and targeting of enemy movements.
Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi told India Strategic magazine that the IAF had 'completed' its planned induction of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) required for surveillance and will now go in for the armed variety called UCAVs.
“We do not have them yet, but in due course we need to acquire them due to the emerging symmetric and asymmetric threats,” the air chief said in the interview, an advance copy of which has been made available to IANS.
UAVs carry only cameras and sensors to detect movement of aircraft, vehicles and men.
He did not give details but said the IAF was aiming at precision delivery of weapons to minimize collateral damage on the one hand and to maximize destruction of a target on the other on all its aircraft, whether manned or unmanned. The UCAVs, armed with precision weapons, would enhance that capability.
An advantage of the UCAVs is that they can loiter around on routine patrols. Once their cameras or sensors detect an already programmed threat, or if they are directed towards a perceived threat, they can immediately engage it and neutralize it.
Whatever the type of war or hostilities, the IAF's endeavour would be to reduce the “Sensor-to-Shooter” time, and that is where the UCAV capability would play a big role, the air chief said.
An air force, he observed, is the first to engage a threat. Whether it is aircraft, sensors, missiles or UAVs/UCAs being inducted or considered by the IAF, Air Headquarters had one objective in mind: air dominance.
Tyagi also disclosed that the IAF had “completed” its induction of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) “on schedule.”
