CRPF plans to acquire kamikaze drones for surveillance and strikes
The paramilitary force is seeking vendors to provide unmanned aerial vehicles capable of hitting targets up to 15 km away.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is planning to procure kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can perform surveillance and strike targets, according to reports by The Indian Express and Hindustan Times. The drones, described as OFC+RF-based first-person-view kamikaze drones, are designed to fly toward a specific target while carrying a high-explosive warhead and transmitting live video back to the operator before destroying themselves upon impact.
The Directorate General of CRPF issued draft qualitative requirements and trial directives on November 5. The force has requested that original equipment manufacturers and vendors submit product specifications and authorisation certificates by November 25.
The requirements state the drones must be small and light, weighing no more than 7 kg including the battery, spool, and warhead. They must be able to fly at speeds of 150 kmph or more with a full payload and operate in winds of at least 35 km/h during take-off, flight, and landing.
The document specifies that the munitions must have a range of at least 15 km and carry two high-explosive warheads weighing at least 1.5 kg. The drones are intended for one-way missions against objectives with a killing or impact radius of 10 metres.
The CRPF is currently deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur. In Manipur, militant groups have reportedly used drones and country-made rocket launchers with ranges of up to 10-15 km against security forces.