It is now going to be very easy to deliver heavy supplies to Indian soldiers deployed on inaccessible borders like Ladakh, Siachen and Arunachal Pradesh. India has taken another big step towards ‘self-reliance’ in the defense sector. ‘EndureAir Systems’ has received a major funding of Rs 30.01 crore from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Technology Development Board (TDB), Government of India.
After this amount, SABAL-200 very powerful and heavy-lift drone will be ready for the Indian Army, which will prove to be a game-changer on the border.
Supply of weapons and ration will be easy at forward posts
Often during the winter season, due to heavy snowfall, the Indian Army’s roads on the borders with China and Pakistan are closed. In such a situation, delivering supplies, medicines and ammunition to the forward posts is a big challenge. SABAL-200 has been designed to eliminate this challenge.
- 200 kg heavy capacity: This drone can lift up to 200 kg of heavy military equipment at a time.
- Long Range and Firepower: It can conduct operations within a radius of 200 kilometers while avoiding enemy sightings and can remain in the air continuously for 2.5 hours.
- No Runway, No Tension (VTOL): There is no need of any runway or helipad for this. It can fly straight like a helicopter and can land directly on any narrow mountain peak.
Technology that will support the army in difficult situations
Turbocharged internal combustion engine and advanced mechanical powertrain have been used in this drone originating from the research ecosystem of IIT Kanpur. This means that this drone can fly without failure even in high-altitude (very high mountainous areas) and areas with lack of oxygen.
Earlier, small drones of this series (SABAL-20 and SABAL-40) have already proved their strength in difficult areas with the Indian Army. Now its 200 kg variant will change the entire face of the army’s logistics system.
Why is this step important in terms of national security and self-reliance?
Building deep-tech military aerospace systems is a long and complex task. This requires rigorous field trials and testing. With the receipt of government funds (RDI), this mega-drone will be made a ‘field-ready’ platform capable of being deployed directly on the border from the advanced stage.
- End foreign dependency : Till now India had to depend on foreign companies for such heavy capacity drones or their parts. With the arrival of this indigenous drone, the country’s money will be saved and sensitive military data will also remain safe within the country.
- Strategic advantage: In case of war or emergency, this drone will be able to provide immediate help to the soldiers surrounded in dense forests and high mountains without any risk to human life.
- This project will not only strengthen India’s defense preparedness, but will also create a new ecosystem of defense manufacturing within the country, which will generate employment related to the defense sector even in small towns.
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