Indian Defence Review

Exploitation of the third dimension in battlefield has always been a winning factor. In our context, the fighter jets, bombers and helicopters, for a variety of reasons like their availability, employment on strategic missions, prevailing air defence environment and the speed of the craft have not been able to influence the proceedings of a tactical battle area so much. Appearance of remotely piloted vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield has brought about a change in the perception of military leaders’ minds. They have accepted, albeit grudgingly, the importance of drones.

For very long these aerial platforms remained out of reach of the third world armies due to their prohibitive cost and control on technology. Meanwhile, the quad copters or drones filled the airspace like a swarm of bees, literally. These platforms are being flown by hobbyists and soldiers alike.Based on dual-use technology for flying, control and other payloads as well, these are being produced on a mass scale. So, the drone operated by a photojournalist to cover an event in real time can also be used by a soldier to keep an eye on the activities of enemy across the crest.

The Russo-Ukraine war has seen widespread use of drones, particularly by Ukraine.Before the war, Ukraine had acquired some 36 Bayraktar (flag bearer in Turkish) TB-2 drones from Turkey.Same drones had tilted the outcome of the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict over Nogorno-Karbakh in favour of the latter. Ukranian forces have been able to destroy some critical military assets of Russia with the help of Bayraktar, making it a sort of legend. Ukrainian people have even penned a song in its honour.

The Bayraktar TB-2 is a medium altitude drone with 27 hours of endurance and an operating range of 150 kilometers from the control station. It can carry micromunition (missiles) and a variety of mission specific payloads. As compared to US MQ-9 Reaper,it is so cost-effective that losing a few platforms in the battlefield will not be a debilitating loss. In May 2022, the Lithuanians had raised 5 million euros through crowd funding to gift a Bayraktar TB-2to Ukraine.Off-the-shelf technology has revolutionized the military use of drones as sale of their sophisticated counterparts needs respective government’s approval.Production of civil-military use drones is more of technology integration as its payloads, such as the cameras, geo-positioning system, navigation, control,data transmission and power packs are all available in the open market.

Ukraine has also received Switchblade drones from the US.It is man-portable and can be tube-launched into air. When the drone finds a target, it can be turned into a guided precision bomb to destroy it. Switchblade can also send signals to the control centre and acts as a battlefield sentinel. The US has also assured supply of four MQ 1C – Gray Eagle medium altitude drones to Ukraine under its latest military aid package. A cargo drone provided by the UK is also being used by the Ukrainian forces. It can resupply Special Forces or besieged troops with ammunition, rations and water, medicines and light weight military equipment.

Drones in the tactical battle area remain uncontested. The air defence or electronic counter measure resources required for shooting down or disabling these platforms are unavailable with armies. These drones hover at a very low altitude to be detected by a radar system. The dual-use drones are being employed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, direction of artillery fire, laser designation of targets for precision guided munitions, post-strike damage assessment, use by Special Forces and targeting military assets. The footage from the drones is also being used for information warfare and perception management.  A clinical strike on Russian military assets portrays them as demoralised and defeated side.

India’s experience with hostile drones is old enough for her to develop a counter-drone strategy for peace and war.  In September 2019, police had recovered arms and grenades and a burnt out drones in Punjab’s Taran sent from Pakistan for Khalistan terrorists. In the wee hours on night 20 June 2021, a drone attack took place at Indian Air Forces Station, Jammu, causing some damage and injuries to personnel. Since 2018-19, Pakistan has been using drones to send in arms & ammunition, drugs and counterfeit currency across the international border and line of control. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence is reported to have established six drone centres across the border to coordinate anti-India activities through aerial routes. With technological advancement the drones’ threat is becoming serious. The Border Security Force, once in a while reports bringing down a few drones, but most of the sorties, it is believed still get through the porous airspace along the international border and line of control.

Apart from the Predator drones that India is planning to acquire from the US, low altitude drones also deserve a serious evaluation for their use in the tactical battle area. Our adversaries are already equipped with such capability. Recently, Bayraktar TB-2 drones were spotted at Pakistan Air Force’s Murid airbase.

We need to commence a programme to produce military use drones by technology integration and production of weapon/ ammunition for the platform. Introduction of such light weight, cost-effective drones at battalion/ regiment and sub-unit level will enhance the battlefield awareness of sub-unit commanders and troops. With suitable loitering munitions, as the drones are often referred to, troops can intervene with the threats.

The drones can be introduced for reconnaissance tasks by Infantry, armoured, artillery and engineer units. The forming up places, tank harbours, gun positions, patrol bases and bridgehead would be better protected by using drones. These will come handy in counter infiltration tasks along the line of control. There is a lot drones can do during peacetime as well.

Drone is an idea whose time has come. Instead of getting surprised by an adversary we should take lead and make use of this winning edge.