India’s Military Modernization: The Latest Advancements in Jetpacks, Robotic Mules, and Drone Systems
The Indian Army has recently announced the procurement of 130 new-age drone systems to boost its surveillance and combat capabilities along sensitive border areas. These tethered drones will be procured through a fast-track procedure under the ‘buy-Indian’ category, as per officials.
The tethered drone system comprises of drones that are connected to a ground-based tether station and can provide surveillance of beyond the line of sight targets for prolonged periods. These drones can also be launched in untethered mode for a certain duration to obtain additional information or confirm intelligence inputs.
In addition to the drone systems, the Indian Ministry of Defence has also decided to procure other high-tech weapons, including jetpacks, robot mules, and jammers, with the aim of increasing its advantage in combat.
The army will be procuring robotic mules that will be capable of autonomous movement across different terrain and will have the ability to self-recover and avoid obstacles. These mules, with a payload capacity of 10 kg, will be able to operate on uneven terrain and ascend and descend. They will be able to scale stairs and will be assigned a route to be tracked via a command station at least a hundred kilometers away.
Jetpacks, on the other hand, will be deployed under ‘special circumstances’ and will allow personnel to cover terrain previously considered ‘inhospitable’ for humans. India will become the third nation, after the US and UK, whose troops will have jetpacks.
The training for jetpacks and robotic mules will occur at the cantonment board Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.
In conclusion, India’s Ministry of Defence is procuring advanced technologies to upgrade its military capabilities as it faces increasing competition from its neighbours. The procurement of these high-tech weapons and equipment will allow the Indian army to manoeuvre more effectively in international politics and gain an advantage in combat.