Army to buy mini-UAVs for J&K operations

New Delhi: Strengthening the capability of its troops in fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army issued a global tender for procuring 20 mini-UAVs for its formations deployed in the state.[caption id=“attachment_435642” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  In combat mode. Reuters[/caption] The tender for the 20 mini-UAVs has been issued soon after the army and the navy issued global Request for Proposal (RFP) for procuring 95 such UAVs. “The mini UAVs will be used in counter terrorist operations by our troops for gathering intelligence and carrying out reconnaissance of particular areas,” army officials said in New Delhi. The tender has been issued by the Udhampur-based Northern Command of the army and the deal is expected to be less than Rs 50 lakhs, they said. In the tender, the army has specified that the mini UAVs should be less than 10 kg in weight and should be able to fly at the altitude of up to 1,000 metre. They said the controlling range of the UAVs should be not less than 5 km and should be able to be launched by hand by the troops on ground. “The UAVs should be able to remain airborne for at least 60 minutes,” officials said. Similar UAVs are also being planned to be used by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the anti-naxal operations in Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand. PTI