Navy plans unmanned aircraft to tackle piracy

[bloo]

Navy plans unmanned aircraft to tackle piracy



KOCHI: The Indian Navy is mooting deployment of unmanned surface and sub-surface vehicles to strengthen its anti-piracy operations. The Navy has submitted its qualitative requirements for a ship-track-and-trail vehicle to the Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory ( NSTL) for "tackling non-state threats and players".

The move is to develop an unmanned vehicle that can be deployed from a naval ship to recce waters in an operational area for suspicious movement and presence of hostile elements. "Navy's idea is to develop an unmanned seaplane type of vehicle. They want it to do aerial as well as sea-surface surveillance," a senior defence source told TOI.

The naval staff qualitative requirement (NSQR), a mandatory expression of interest that precedes any defence development or procurement programme, wants the vehicle to have an endurance of eight hours. "Two types are being designed. One will be a smaller version weighing 1.5 tonne and the second one weighing five tonne. The latter obviously will be able to carry more payload for reconnaissance,'' sources said.

The Indian Navy's initiative is based on the success of unmanned operations of US and Israeli navies. "These vehicles can direct the ship to the exact area where pirates wait for an assault. This would add power to the first strike capability," sources said.

Navy plans unmanned aircraft to tackle piracy - Times Of India

 

[T90TankGuy]

Is it just me or do the harriers all have different paint schemes?

 

[sancho]

The move is to develop an unmanned vehicle that can be deployed from a naval ship to recce waters in an operational area for suspicious movement and presence of hostile elements. "Navy's idea is to develop an unmanned seaplane type of vehicle. They want it to do aerial as well as sea-surface surveillance," a senior defence source told TOI

What nonsens, you would have to slow down the vessel, or even stop to launch the sea plane, or to recover it. In the mean time any attack might already be over.

The Indian Navy's initiative is based on the success of unmanned operations of US and Israeli navies.

The US uses unmanned helicopters or VTOL drones, the Israelis have some unmanned security boats, but to protect ports or areas close to the shore, they won't have the necessary range to be used at high seas, not to mention that a naval helicopter with MARCOs is still the best choice anyway, because it is fast and they can directly capture the pirates and don't have to wait till the main vessel reaches the area of attack as well.

 

[bloo]

What nonsens, you would have to slow down the vessel, or even stop to launch the sea plane, or to recover it. In the mean time any attack might already be over.




The US uses unmanned helicopters or VTOL drones, the Israelis have some unmanned security boats, but to protect ports or areas close to the shore, they won't have the necessary range to be used at high seas, not to mention that a naval helicopter with MARCOs is still the best choice anyway, because it is fast and they can directly capture the pirates and don't have to wait till the main vessel reaches the area of attack as well.

Why so?
The X-47B only recently did launch from the USS G.H.W. Bush.
Navy launches unmanned aircraft from carrier | Navy Times | navytimes.com

 

[sancho]

Why so?
The X-47B only recently did launch from the USS G.H.W. Bush.
Navy launches unmanned aircraft from carrier | Navy Times | navytimes.com

That's a UCAV for deep strikes, not a drone for maritime recon operations from normal vessels. The US use the Firescout drone for these kind of operations and are developing bigger and more capable helicopter drones.