CRPF plans to procure kamikaze UAVs with 15-km strike capability, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) plans to acquire kamikaze Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as loitering munitions.
• These drones will possess a strike capability of up to 15 km and can livestream video of the ground beneath.
• The UAVs are designed to carry two high-explosive warheads, each weighing at least 1.5 kg, and self-destruct on impact with a 10-meter impact radius.
• Draft qualitative requirements for OFC+RF-based FPV kamikaze drones were issued on November 5, with a deadline of November 25 for manufacturers to submit information.
• Key specifications include a maximum weight of 7 kg, a speed of 150 kmph or more, and an endurance of 20-30 minutes.

Detailed Insights:

• The procurement aims to significantly enhance the CRPF's precision strike capabilities in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
• This advanced technology is particularly intended to benefit specialized units like CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), especially in regions such as Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir.
• The deployment of kamikaze UAVs is expected to reduce direct risk to security personnel by enabling remote and precise targeting of hostile elements and positions.
• This initiative signifies a broader strategic shift in India's internal security architecture towards integrating modern drone technology, artificial intelligence, and precision-strike systems.
• First-Person-View (FPV) drones, which are highly agile and maneuverable, have demonstrated considerable effectiveness in recent global conflicts, such as the Russo-Ukraine War.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Kamikaze UAVs (Loitering Munitions): Drones designed to loiter over a target area and then crash into a designated target with an explosive payload.
• First-Person-View (FPV) Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by an operator viewing a real-time video feed from the drone's perspective, often through specialized goggles.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): An aircraft without a human pilot on board, operated either remotely or autonomously, used for various military and civilian applications.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): India's largest Central Armed Police Force, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, primarily responsible for internal security, counter-insurgency, and law and order.
• CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action): A specialized unit of the CRPF trained for jungle warfare and counter-insurgency operations, particularly against Left-Wing Extremism.