The Indian Army under its “Emergency Procurement Powers” on Wednesday (1 September) has signed a contract to procure over 100 armed drones called “SkyStrikers” from Bengaluru-headquartered Alpha Design-led joint venture (JV) with Israel’s Elbit Security Systems (ELSEC), reports Economic Times.
The procurement of these drones would also enhance the government’s Make in India and indigenisation push in the defence sector and these drones would be manufactured in Bengaluru and they are also referred to as suicide drone as it crashes into the target with explosives
As per the information on ELSEC’s website, SkyStriker is a cost-efficient loitering munition that is capable of long-range precise tactical strikes and gives the army more situational awareness, survivability, and performance capability by allowing special forces and manoeuvrable troops to harness its direct-fire aerial-precision capabilities.
Skystriker’s electric propulsion offers a minimal acoustic signature, allowing covert operations at low altitude operations.
Chairman and managing director of Alpha Design Col (retd) HS Shankar said, “Location details (GPS) will be loaded onto the drone before launch. Upon launching, it will hover around the area, pick up the target, relay the information back to ground control equipment and strike only after getting clearance.”
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