The WanderB UAS is intended for covert operations and can operate within a 50-km range. (photo: Cyient Solutions and Systems)
Hyderabad-based
Cyient Solutions and Systems (CSS), a 51-49 percent joint venture company
between engineering, manufacturing, geospatial, digital, networks company
Cyient and Israel’s Blue Bird, launched at Aero India in Bangalore an
electric mini WanderB vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial
system (UAS). The UAS covers a longer distance than SpyLite, already delivered
to the army in November. The VTOL has an extra battery to ensure extended
distance operations for low-intensity conflicts addressed by the paramilitary,
Sanjay Sharma, vice president and business head of CSS, told AIN.
WanderB is specially optimized for covert, “over-the-hill”
operations, supporting extensive day and night intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (ISR) missions, explained Sharma. It has an operational
availability of 2.5 hours and a mission range of 50 km (extendable up to 80
km).
The Indian army selected the CSS SpyLite mini UAS for
high-altitude aerial surveillance last year. According to CSS, SpyLite was the
only one among four bidders that met end-user requirements to conduct real-time
surveillance and target acquisition at very high altitude and in extreme
weather conditions of up to minus 20 degrees C. Sharma sees large orders in the
offing.
India is expected to spend around $750 million on UASs in the
next few years. While the current military inventory of Israeli Searchers and
Herons is effective, those UAS are not just highly priced but also require a
huge operational infrastructure and manpower resource, both at a premium. “We
see an advantage for tactical and not medium-altitude long-endurance [MALE]
or high-altitude long-endurance [HALE] systems. Ours requires no
runway and has an autonomous program,” added Sharma.
CSS is also in discussions with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard
for the 32Kg ThunderB with an endurance of 24 hours and 150 km range.
Draft specifications are expected to be drawn out by March. The army, too, is
looking at it in big numbers. The dual-hybrid ThunderB VTOL is capable of
taking off vertically from a very small ground clearing or a small marine
vessel by using its quad vertical electric motors, transition to a level
flight powered by its long-endurance horizontal fuel-injection engine, and
transitioning back to a precise, vertical landing after completing its
operational mission, requiring a much smaller logistical footprint than when
using standard launch and recovery systems. This capability is achieved by
adding a VTOL kit comprising of two booms, with four vertical electrical
motors, connected under the ThunderB’s wings.
The new-generation 2 Kg MicroB is useful for a convoy on the
move, pushing the envelope in the Micro-UAS niche by providing an endurance of
up to 2.5 hours, and advanced communications capable controlling the MicroB up
to a range of 10 Km, providing airborne data relay and performing “Hot Swap”
while transmitting HD quality imagery. It is also being looked at by the Indian
army, AIN has learned.
Plans to part-manufacture SpyLite and WanderB are expected by April
next year. According to Sharma, the first stage of the project that included
integration of the Spylite system in India has been completed. The second phase
includes “transfer of technology for manufacturing the entire system out of our
facility.” That too, will be done in phases. The company has already identified
suppliers for parachutes, launchers, structures, and controls. Training
has also been carried out for seven people in Israel who will in turn train
more in India. “We will have at least 60 percent coverage [the Indian
government specifies 50 percent],” said Sharma.
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