Drones to ferry arms at borders

■ THE ARMY has invited think tanks to come up with drones that can carry load higher than 20 kg and operate at high altitude.

The Army’s age-old practice of deploying mules to ferry ammunition across tough terrain, especially in the north-eastern border, will soon come to an end, as drones step in to take the load.

The Army has invited think tanks to come up with drones that can carry load higher than 20kg and operate at high altitude, deputy chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. S.S. Hasabnis said.

The Indian Army has also put out an advisory, welcoming drones to support its high-altitude deployment.

The Army used mules in its animal transport (AT) units.

The mules ferry ammunition, weapons, food and more in some of the most difficult outposts at high altitude, up to 20,000 feet, especially in the north-eastern border that India shares with China and Myanmar.

“We are looking at drones that can carry heavy weight and can be operated at a great height under all weather conditions,” said the deputy chief of Army staff. “Earlier, the primary focus was on procurement, especially importing products, weapons and more. However, the aim has shifted to production and development within the country. The Indian Army needs equipment that is suitable to operate in tough terrain and extreme weather conditions. The Army needs weapons not just to tackle the enemy on the battlefield but also to barge into their launch pads and destroy them.”

The Army needs technology-based weapons that cannot just identity the enemy but target its strategic assets. “The challenge is to develop a system and infrastructure so that the Army can gather intelligence over cyber space and on the ground in order to corner the enemy,” Lt. Gen. D.B. Shekatkar said. “There is also a need for change in mindset and the government should encourage indigenous weapons. There is a lobby at all levels to stop manufacturing of weapons within the country and this needs to change.”