The Indian Army has given a tender to buy 20 portable, mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for deployment in Jammu and Kashmir in order to strengthen the Army horde in the border of the state.
"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 to the Press Trust of India.
The Northern Army Command, based in Udhampur issued the tender earlier this month. It is said that the procurement for the UAVs may cost less than ₹500,000.The flying machine will weigh less than 10kgs, thus making it easier for the Army men to go at higher altitudes. The noise-free flying machine will have a speed of about 40 knots or over 70 kmph and can fly up to 1,000 metres.
"The tender was issued earlier this month and we expect the mini-UAV manufacturers to respond by the beginning of September this year. After perusal of the proposals, the orders will be placed for the 20 mini-UAVs required at present," sources told IANS.
Apart from developing such UAVs, India is also planning to deploy similar kind of flying machines in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand region for anti-naxal operations. At present the Army is using Searcher-II and 60 Heron UAVs.
