Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)
Indian Navy to ask ADE for a maritime variant of Archer-NG UAV
The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is preparing to develop Archer-NG UAV and now the Indian Navy has expressed its interest to collaborate on the program to build a new Maritime variant that can be utilized for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and targeted strikes at sea.
The Archer-NG will be a single-engine twin boom setup, and to have over 80% indigenous content and 70% of its systems and components will be derived from the TAPAS BH-201 UAV program and it will have four hardpoints that can carry a maximum payload of 300 kilograms.
Indian Navy is currently operating 2 General Atomics MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAVs on lease from the United States, while talks are at the final stage to conclude a deal of 18 MQ-9B UAVs deal, 6 each for the three armed forces, but Indian Navy has a requirement of more such UAVs as India’s coastline is vast, and now they want to fulfill those requirements through indigenous route. Indian Navy to ask ADE for a maritime variant of Archer-NG UAV Indian Navy to ask ADE for a maritime variant of Archer-NG UAV Indian Navy to ask ADE for a maritime variant of Archer-NG UAV IgMp
