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BECAUSE
HOPE
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© GA ASI
Systems highlighted the capabilities According to reports, the proposed Air Programme (GCAP) effort to
of the Hermes 900, a large medi- deal is for 31 drones, with the develop a sixth-generation stealth
um-range long endurance (MALE) Indian Navy planning to acquire 15 fighter. CRITICAL
class of drone that has spawned a SeaGuardian drones and the Indian The concept of fielding a swarm of
civilian-agency variant called the Air Force and the Indian Army eight smaller drones along with a combat MISSION
Hermes 900 Starliner. According to SkyGuardian drones each. jet, or even independently, is not
the company, Hermes 900 has the The Eurodrone program, which has new; Boeing Australia and the
“first ever dual military and civilian encountered significant delays and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
certifications for a UAS.” The drone challenges, is meant to produce a have developed MQ-28A Ghost Bat,
can perform ground support and European-made large UAS. The or a Loyal Wingman, which will fly
maritime patrol missions for both effort involves Italy, Spain, Germany alongside existing manned aircraft
naval customers and civilian gov- and France as well as contractors and uses artificial intelligence (AI)
ernment agencies. Leonardo, Dassault Aviation, and to conduct teaming missions. The
Airbus Defense and Space. In Ghost Bat, which is capable of
2022, France reaffirmed its intention performing surveillance, reconnais-
Homegrown Products to buy six Eurodrones, four of which sance, and early warning missions,
India’s push to enhance the capa- are on order. The proposed drone is is expected to enter service with
bilities of its indigenous defence not expected to enter service before the RAAF between 2024 and 2025.
industry has resulted in the Ghatak 2030. The Loyal Wingman has a length of
(Lethal), an autonomous high- 11.7m and a wingspan of 7.3m. It is
speed drone that based on a flying Small is Beautiful designed to fly at a subsonic speed
wing design. The combat drone, and attain a range of more than
being developed by Defense The demand for large military 2,000nm. The aircraft will be fitted
Research and Development drones is, if anything, being dwarfed with sensors, allowing a manned
Organization (DRDO) for the Indian by the appetite being shown by aircraft to simultaneously carry out
Air Force, has a weapons bay for militaries to acquire smaller, less surveillance, navigation, and tactical
missiles and smart bombs. It will expensive unmanned aircraft sys- operations with the help of modular
be able to land without infrastruc- tems (UAS). In October last year, ATS payloads aboard a swarm of
ture like ground radar, or a pilot. the United States and Australia drones.
“With this flight in the tailless announced plans to cooperate with
configuration, India has joined Japan on uncrewed aircraft sys- Replicator Initiative When you have people in need on the frontline, there is no option but
an elite club of countries that tems (UAS), stepping up efforts in to support. There is no airfield for miles. You need to reach a hostile
have mastered the controls the field of “collaborative combat The Pentagon believes the concept environment in unforgiving terrain where the only options are short,
for the flying wing technol- aircraft (CCA),” which involves of using inexpensive autonomous unpaved airstrips. The multi-role Airbus A400M can carry 37 tonnes of aid,
unmanned aircraft operating auton-
systems against the enemy can
ogy,” the defence ministry said. omously or side by side with piloted work across domains. In August last more than 100 people or even life-saving, heavy engineering equipment.
aircraft. Japan, interestingly, is year, it announced the Replicator It is capable of landing virtually anywhere, ensuring that civilians, units or
Ghatak’s successful test comes also partnering with the UK and initiative that aims to field “multiple communities who need support are never out of reach. With the A400M
in the wake of the delay in the Italy to develop CCA-style drones thousands” of “attritable autono- we can help them and protect our beautiful world.
procurement of MQ-9B drones. as part of the Global Combat mous systems” across multiple
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