One of the most focussed and fast developing sectors in India is the Unmanned Aviation sector. The emphasis and importance of this sector can be ascertained by the fact that in November 2020, the Government of India accorded sanction for establishing a Drone Directorate under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Notably, such a measure was undertaken amidst the enforcement of the extreme fiscal prudence measures. Presently, it is staffed by ten officers of the DGCA. The list and contact details are available here:
India is undoubtedly a late entrant in recognising the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a key enabler for many other key disruptive technologies to piggyback upon. This is true for both Civil as well as military domains. However, India is making up the lost ground through a top-driven approach to capability building, evidenced by the role being played by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), which provides and facilitates direct access to the mushrooming start-ups through an enabling participative and responsive approach.
The book by Gp Capt Rajiv Kumar Narang, Vayu Sena Medal, a serving officer of the Indian Air Force, is the result of research spanning over four years at the Centre for Air Power Studies and was released in 2019. The research work’s aim is quite obvious from the title itself and focuses on suggesting a way forward for the indigenous development of UAV capability.
Organised into nine chapters, it is an exhaustive and exhausting read due to the breadth of concepts and issues addressed. In the first three chapters, historical aspects of the UAVs’ global deployment have been covered, along with wide-ranging aspects about their Combat deployment and the challenges to their integration in a Non-segregated Air Space. These chapters also cover regulatory, certification, and operational challenges being faced by the UAV operators on a global stage and their relevance in an Indian context.
The next two chapters take a close look at how the Chinese have built up their Aviation eco-system. The narrative is detailed and does digress a little with a detailed examination of the entire aviation- academia linkages before refocussing on the “New-Age” UAVs being developed by China. The section ends with an analysis of the economic implications of the Chinese having gained a significant market share of the Drone industry and also comments upon the strategic implications of the Chinese capability development on India.
A chapter is also dedicated to discussing the approach adopted by Pakistan to indigenise its UAV capabilities. Pakistan has tried to balance out its security needs by sourcing UAVs from China, Italy and Germany. It is also a fact that the Americans have been operating the UAVs from CIA bases in Pakistan as a part of their “War on Terror” Operations. The Chapter dedicated to the Pakistani effort also briefly discusses the impact of the effort on India.
The last three chapters focus on the Indian efforts in acquiring and exploiting the UAV for military purposes. It discusses the Indian indigenisation efforts in developing the enabling technologies, such as engines, data-links, sensors and payloads. While trying to explain the challenges the aviation sector faces in India, the narrative somewhat disconcertingly moves away from UAVs and discusses various aspects and challenges faced by the Aviation Manufacturing sector in India. The topics discussed are as diverse as the effects of DRDO reforms, inconsistencies in Indigenous design and development, Certification issues, and the Research & Development challenges balanced against acquisition programmes.
However, the author in the last chapter manages to refocus the reader’s attention to the developing UAV eco-system in India by drawing important parallels with the overall indigenisation experience of the Indian aviation industry. He simultaneously suggests the roadmap for strengthening the existing aviation eco-system and bats for the establishment of a National Aeronautics Commission (NAC), which will spearhead the national effort. Some of the other suggestions include establishing an Aeronautical University and suggestions to be implemented at the Ministerial level, including significant R&D investments and the establishment of many Centres of Excellence, specialising in various disciplines ranging from Propulsion Systems to Metallurgy and Artificial Intelligence/Software Development. A short section is also dedicated to the “Mehar Baba UAS Swarm challenge” as a template for funding indigenous technology development
The highlight of the book is that each chapter can be read in a standalone mode. The book also provides a rich source of referenced data relating to UAVs’ manufacturing and their myriad applications. The debate on safely operating the UAVs in non-segregated airspace and Urban centres for Civil applications is likely to be the focus area for the foreseeable future.
The book is a recommended read for both professional and hobbyist UAV enthusiasts. For scholars and policymakers, the book is likely to be a rich source of data based upon which various stakeholders can contribute to the indigenous UAV manufacturing effort and evolve the regulatory framework permitting the civilian applications of the UAV, especially in providing the last mile connectivity for Beyond Visual Line of Sight Drone delivery operations using indigenously developed UAV systems.
[The Book is available on Amazon]
