New Delhi: India and the US have signed an agreement for cooperation in the development of unmanned air vehicles that are launched by air (Aluavs), which can in the future lead to the manufacture together with a flock of intelligence drones that can be launched from aircraft to flood the defense system enemy air.
The two countries will work to develop Aluaav prototypes with initial costs of $ 11 million each (a total of $ 22 million) under the framework of the overall bilateral defense technology and trade initiative (DTTI), which most failed to send goods since it was launched in 2012.
” This time, this is a concrete project agreement (PA) signed between our Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense.
This is a long-term project, and may take three to four years to develop the Aluaav prototype, “said a source.
“Basically, Aluaav will be brought like a bomb on an airplane.
It will be launched from the air, not conventional UAVs launched on land.
India and the US are also discussing a small air system launched by air or flock of drones,” he added.
The Ministry of Defense, in its part, said PA for Aluaav was written under a shared working group for the air system under DTTI on July 30.
“The agreement is an important step towards the collaboration of deep defense technology between two countries.
Defense equipment development,” said a statement.
“Pa describes the collaboration between the US Air Force research laboratory, the Organization of Research and Development of the Indian Air Force and Defense against the design, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation of the system to develop Aluaav prototypes,” added mod.
India and the US previously agreed seven projects under DTTI.
The “short term” was identified as a small air system launched by air (drone swarms), lightweight weapon technology and Istar system (intelligence, supervision, targeting, and reconnaissance), as reported by TOI.
The “Medium Term” project includes a maritime domain awareness (MDA) solution and “augmented reality virtual solution for aircraft maintenance (Vamram)”.
The “long term”, in turn, is a “field forming field” (deadly munition) and anti-drone technology called “Counter-UAS rocket, artillery and mortar system”.
The US, by chance, has pocketed a profitable Indian defense agreement worth more than $ 21 billion since 2007.India wanted to change the relationship between “sellers” to be a shared development and production of advanced weapons systems but still pipedream until now.