Indian MoD to procure 5G-enabled surveillance UAVs

The Indian MoD is procuring an undisclosed number of Jaga unmanned aerial vehicles (pictured) from Noida-based IG Drones to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. (IG Drones)

Noida-based IG Drones has secured a contract from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide its 5G-enabled Jaga unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.

A spokesperson for IG Drones told Janes on 28 February that the company plans to complete the supply of an undisclosed number of its Jaga UAVs to the Indian MoD by the end of May.

The spokesperson said that Jaga is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) quadcopter that “can be deployed from any terrain without the need for a conventional runway”. The UAV has an endurance of five hours, a speed of 18–21 m/s, and an operating altitude of up to 400 ft above ground level, the spokesperson added.

“Jaga has a payload capacity of 10 kg and a maximum all-up weight of 14 kg,” the spokesperson said, adding that “[the Jaga UAVs] are equipped with a variety of sensors, including red, green, and blue (RGB) [cameras], multispectral, and thermal, with the added flexibility of customisable settings”.

The spokesperson added that the Jaga UAVs can operate in “extreme temperatures” and high altitudes, enabling them to support defence forces in harsh terrains.

The spokesperson declined to provide more details about the contract.

In a media release on 27 February, IG Drones said that it will supply the Jaga UAVs and “essential accessories” to the MoD, which can be leveraged to enhance the “operational efficiency” of defence forces deployed along India's borders.