Why is it in the news?
- DRDO successfully tests Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
More about the news
- Tailless fixed-wing aircraft with payload and fuel housed in its main wings.
- Scaled-down version of a futuristic unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
- Designed and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment.
- Allows take-off and landing from any runway with surveyed coordinates using GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN).
- Positions India in the elite club mastering flying wing technology.
- Potential use as a covert stealth combat drone.
| Applications of Drones in Defence
· Used to identify enemy positions, assess terrain, and track movements. · Equipped with precision-guided munitions for targeting enemy positions. · Locates and rescues personnel in hazardous or inaccessible areas. · Faster and easier deployment, providing operational flexibility.
Challenges to India’s Drone Potential · Existing communication gaps between lawmakers and drone makers. · Dependence on imported key components and materials required for drones. · Insufficient research and development in drone technology. · Supply-side issues related to standardization of components and mass production.
Government Initiatives to Promote Drones · Drone Shakti Scheme: A scheme to institutionalize and create a framework for multiple stakeholders to collaborate. · PLI Scheme: Production Linked Incentive scheme for drones and drone components. · Drone Rules 2021: New rules to facilitate startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the drone sector. |
