Swadeshi pride vs software stability? Army keeps DRDO on toes over UAV Nishant induction

 (Above) A rare photo of Nishant captured soon after its release from a mobile launcher. (Below) Indian Army officials inspect unmanned aerial vehicle Nishant during confirmatory trials at Pokhran.
Photo: Ministry of Defence

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The Indian Army is yet to induct the desi Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant even after completing the confirmatory trials in Pokhran and Chandan ranges in February this year. Its makers in Bangalore – the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) – a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) installation, had then gone to the town trumpeting the UAV's success.
“The successful flight trials were conducted by the Army before taking delivery of a set of four Nishant together with ground support equipment (GSE). The performance of the pay load sensors in particular has been better than even the imported UAVs with the Army . It is expected that more of such equipment will soon be purchased (read as eight) by the users," the DRDO had said in an official release issued in February.
While the ADE top brass refused to any share information, sighting the sensitives involved at this stage, sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi confirmed to The New Indian Express, that post-confirmatory trials, another last set of evaluation was also done by the Indian Army in September this year, at two DRDO labs. “As far as we know, the final tests were for electro-magnetic interference (EMI), electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) and maintenance evaluation trials (MET),” MoD sources said.
The General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) for the Nishant project was given to the DRDO by the Indian Army in 1999, soon after the developmental trails were over. While, some quarters blame the Army for changing the GSQRs a number of times, the DRDO too was accused of taking too much time in executing the technology changes.
The four Nishants waiting to be inducted, at a cost of Rs 80 crore, have onboard a forward looking infra red (FLIR) camera which would aid night operations. The upgraded Nishant can spot a tank-size object at a slant range of six-seven km while flying at an altitude of of 1.5 km.
While the DRDO might be pondering over the induction procedures of Army, sources indicate that a decision would be officially announced within two months. The DRDO is pitching hard on Nishant's USPs, including low repair cost and quick software maintenance modes. On its part, the Indian Army is ensuring that they have a UAV loaded with their choice of features – and not one thrust upon them to satisfy the swadeshi pride, but operational efficiencies.
Army had issues with Nishant's video and tracking qualities, which the DRDO now says are all fixed.The Indian Army might place an order for eight more Nishants, including GSE, at a cost of Rs 160 crore, once the much-awaited induction of first four is over.

NISHANT TIMELINES

Sanctioned as a development project: 1991
Development trials: 1999
User evaluation & trials: 2000-2002
Firm Army order for 4 LSPs: 2006
Value of the order: Rs 80 crore
Confirmatory trials: 2010-2011
Post-confirmatory tests: September 2011
Total R&D cost so far: Rs 60 crore
Likely additional orders: 8
(Source: Ministry of Defence)

Copyright@The New Indian Express

It's raining bombs in Pokhran! Tejas drops LGBs

It's official. It's raining bombs in Pokhran! Three test platforms from the Tejas flight-line -- LSP-2, LSP-5 and PV-3 -- is scripting a new chapter in India's light combat aircraft program. As reported by Tarmak007 earlier, the crucial weapon trails of Tejas are currently underway at the Chandan and Pokhran ranges of Rajasthan. Sources confirm that 10-12 sorties have been completed so far. Pick of these fire-works were the dropping of laser-guided bombs (LGBs), which according to sources was demonstrated by Tejas as per the plan.

"The practice bombing sorties gave good results. We are here till the month-end. Now, we have lined-up crucial drop-tank jettison tests. This included the trials of empty, partially-full and full drop-tank tests. It is a time-consuming exercise. Yesterday we had 2 sorties of empty jettison and practice bombing sessions. We dropped 1000 pounds, 400 pounds and even 25 pounds bombs. LGBs were also released," a senior official, part of the 200-strong contingent said.

Sources claim that the initial results of these weapon trials were "'really encouraging'' and the team will soon start analyzing the inputs. "Once we get the complete data, then we will be able to map all the profiles of these trials. Remember that these are extremely critical ones as we are currently undertaking the missions at various modes, different altitudes and at differing Mach numbers,"the official said.

Team Tejas will have to complete their missions at the allotted slots and hence the role of time-keepers and planners become critical. "The range has heavy traffic owing to other trials by various agencies. It is a huge challenge to perform these missions at clock-like precision," the official said.

Sources confirm that one mobile telemetry has been already positioned at Jaisalmer, while another is at the Ozar Air Base in Nasik. Back-up equipment, additional ground crew and support platforms (LSP-3, LSP-4) are also put on a stand-by.

That's all for now. More soon...

Breaking on Tarmak007: Tejas set to bomb Pokhran & Chandan Ranges

[Updated Copy]

Much ahead of India's Festival of Lights -- Diwali -- India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is all set to do carpet bombing in Rajasthan! A high-profile team of engineers, test pilots, scientists and ground crew from ADA, HAL, NFTC and IAF have already touched down at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan for the light and sound show. As this blog goes live, the Tejas pilots have already done recce flights ahead of their crucial weapon trials -- ringing in some excitement to the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) phase.

Sources confirm to Tarmak007 that LSP-2, LSP-5, and (three platforms from the flight line) have already reached Jaisalmer and flying, after a brief stopover at Ozhar Air Force base in Nasik for refueling. "The crucial weapons trials are all set to begin now. We are planning to drop 1000 pounds and 400 pounds bombs at Chandan and Pokhran Ranges," say sources. "LSP-3 and LSP-4 were also scheduled to go earlier. But they are now being kept as a stand-by in Bangalore," sources said.

This is for the first time that Tejas would be undertaking precision bombing at a range closer to Indian border. "These are very sensitive trials. We are looking to secure accurate positions and target parameters. We will move on to Leh and then to Goa from here, later this year. There has been delays post-IOC declaration (January 10, 2011) and we hope to set the record straight from here," sources said.

Over 200 people are part of this weapon trial at Jaisalmer. Tejas had earlier undertaken weapon trials in Goa and Chitradurga.

Stay tuned for more on Jaisalmer trials...