Uav drone predator1/14/2024 ![]() Apart from the armed capability, the drone has top of the line radar surveillance capability and can give real time information to commanders on ground about Chinese or Pakistan unilateral moves on the border. The Predator can carry four Hell-Fire air-to ground missiles and two precision guided ammunition to take out high value targets. The need for a hunter-killer drone like Predator has been felt as India only has medium altitude long endurance drones without armed capability. Based at Rajali Naval base in Tamil Nadu, the two Sea Guardian drones have generated exceptional data and maritime domain awareness from Aden off Africa to the Lombok straits in Indonesia. The Indian Navy already has two unarmed reconnaissance versions of General Atomics drone from 2020, the lease of which is expected to expire in 2024. To make matters worse, China is supplying the same armed drone Wing Loong II to its client state Pakistan. While the government is in constant touch with Predator manufacturer General Atomics, the need for a top of line proven armed drone was felt as the PLA is constantly upgrading and cementing military-infra along the 3488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) and has a developed armed drone capability. The deal after approval from the government will be done with the US on a government-to-government basis. Predator Drone MQ-9B file photoĪs first reported by the Hindustan Times, instead of each of the three services wing acquiring 10 each of Predator drones, the new projection is six platforms each of Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force to cater to their specific requirements. In a typically British move, the UK air force has renamed its Reaper squadron as the Protector, to make it sound friendlier.After conducting detailed operations research system analysis (ORSA), the Indian armed forces have pared down their requirement for acquisition of US MQ-9B Predator high altitude long endurance (HALE) armed drones from 30 to 18 platforms and have projected their necessity to the Narendra Modi government. In the meantime, the Reaper is the new platform of choice for military use by the US and its allies. Instead the manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, has redeveloped the drone for civilian government use, renamed it the SkyGuardian, and is trying to flog it to police forces around the world. The retirement of the Predator doesn't mean they will be banished from the skies. "And after making life and death decisions all day, it doesn't matter. ![]() "You come home and have to make all the little choices about the kids' clothes or if I parked in the right place," said retired drone pilot Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Black. There's also the dislocation of spending a day fighting remotely in a cubical and then going home to see the wife and kids. The study suggested that whereas conventional pilots seldom see the results of attacks, drone operators stay on station to record the attack. While drone pilots suffer lower levels of post-traumatic stress disorder than pilots on the ground, a 2013 study found, the mental strains are heavier for controllers operating from home. ![]() That saves a lot of costs, but also comes with its own problems. Predator and Reaper drones typically have a two-person crew – one to fly the aircraft and the other to handle weapons systems. ![]() Drone fliers don't even need to be in the same locale – or even the same continent – as the aircraft they are flying, thanks to reliable satellite control feeds. And when it comes to drones, cost is a critical argument. ![]()
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