Moving From Drone Purchases To Drone Partnerships

Syllabus: GS3/Defence Technology; Internal Security

Context

• India’s recent $2 billion procurement of military drones from domestic manufacturers marks a significant milestone in the country’s defence modernisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) agenda and strengthens indigenous manufacturing.

About Drones/UAVs

• Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft without a pilot onboard. They can be remotely controlled or operate autonomously using technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPS, sensors and communication systems.
• Key Applications: Surveillance and reconnaissance, Border surveillance, Precision strikes, Logistics and supply delivery, Disaster management and emergency response, Agricultural monitoring and mapping.

Drones in Modern Warfare

• Cost-Efficient Force Multipliers: Drones are able to carry out tasks that are typically done using highly priced combat aircraft and weapon systems at a much lower cost.
  • Recently, First-Person View (FPV) drones used in the Russia-Ukraine war can successfully knock down million-dollar armoured fighting vehicles.
• Improved Situational Awareness: Improved real-time ISR helps make decisions on the battlefield.
• Precision and Lower Risks: It is possible to carry out precision strikes through drones without putting the lives of the soldiers at risk.
• Electronic Warfare and Adaptable Systems: Jamming and electronic attacks take place in modern battlefields.
  • The drone systems must be upgraded constantly in order to be operative.
• Innovative Cycle: The development process of drone technology occurs within months and needs flexible procurement policies rather than conventional defences which can stay the same for decades.

India’s Domestic Drone Industry

• Developing Manufacturing: More than 600 drone and parts manufacturers exist and more than 100 companies are producing military drones.
  • Start-ups are increasingly taking part in the designing and software, sensor and analytics development of drones.
• Interconnected Civilian-Military Innovation: Developments in surveying, mapping, logistics, disaster management and agriculture often have military applications too.
• Emerging Applications: India Post’s cooperation with Skye Air to use drones in logistics for difficult terrains.
  • Agricultural spraying and crop monitoring are performed in government-sponsored projects.
  • Inspection of infrastructure and disaster operations.

Challenges in the Drone Ecosystem

• Procurement System based on Transactional Approach: Currently procurement in the defence sector is more or less transactional.
  • When there is a need for something then there is an issuance of tender and purchase of that particular product.
  • While good for static technologies, the model does not suit dynamic and fast-moving drones.
• Slowly Moving Process of Upgradation: Effective deployment of drones requires upgradation of their software, sensors, and communication aspects.
  • The procurement system usually finds it difficult to keep pace with these developments.
• Vulnerability to Electronic Warfare: There are some emerging threats like GPS spoofing, jamming, etc which necessitate continuous changes in drones’ systems.
• Less Visibility in Long-term Demand for Products: Manufacturers find it difficult to predict orders and therefore lack incentive to invest in research & development and production capacities.
• Dependence on Key Components: The issue of India’s inability to produce advanced sensors, semiconductors, communication devices and propulsions systems domestically continues.

Initiatives and Efforts Related to the Drone Ecosystem in India

• Drone Rules, 2021: It has simplified the regulatory regime by lowering compliance barriers, digitalizing approvals, widening scope of use and developing an industry-friendly environment.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: The PLI scheme for drones and drones components will boost domestic production, enhance international competitiveness, draw investments and innovations.
• Defence Acquisition Reforms: The proposed Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) will facilitate procurement of COTS systems, thus allowing the armed forces to procure commercial drones easily.
  • The Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) provides the necessary funding for upgrade and maintenance too.
• Drone Shakti Programme: This programme is meant for promoting DrAAS through promoting startups, increasing agricultural applications and making domestic components.
• Civilian Applications Expansion: Various government departments are using drones extensively for governance and service delivery. These include:
• Mapping Under SVAMITVA Scheme: Agriculture Monitoring; Disaster Management; Delivery of logistics and health care; and Use of drones for delivery of parcels by India Post in rural areas
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: The overall strategy of the government towards indigenisation will encourage domestic design and development, manufacture, import substitution and collaboration between public and private sectors.
• Namo Drone Didi Initiative: The programme will promote the use of drones by women-led self help groups for agricultural purpose, thus increasing civilian applications and demand for manufacturing of drones.

Way Ahead: A Path toward the Partnership-Based Procurement Approach

• Managed Service Approach: Rather than buying the drones as a commodity, the military can engage in long-term contracts with the suppliers involving:
  • Maintenance and lifecycle support
  • Software and firmware updates
  • Parts replacement
  • Ongoing improvement of capabilities
  • Quick response to any new threats
• Guaranteed Availability and Rapid Production Capability: Long-term contracts will ensure predictable demand on behalf of manufacturers while providing the military with rapid scaling up in emergencies.
• Innovation Support Structure: Joint work of the military and industrial sector will allow for prompt feedback, testing and implementation of innovations.
• Procurement Approach Based on Capability: The key point is not to purchase the equipment, but to support the capability throughout the lifetime of the system.

Source: TH