Air Force started work on ‘Vayu Baan’

New Delhi: Drones are becoming the focal point in conflicts around the world Indian Air Force (IAF) has started work on the country’s first helicopter-dropped drone project, called ‘Vayu Baan’ (aerial arrow).Vayu Baan is an indigenous Air-Launched Effects (ALE) program designed to directly integrate unmanned aerial systems with manned rotary-wing platforms. It is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter in mid-flight. Once released, the drone opens its wings, activates its propulsion and acts as a surveillance asset or precision-guided munition (kamikaze drone).The domestic project is being led by the IAF’s Aerospace Design Directorate (DAD), Gandhinagar, which recently issued a request for proposal (RFP), inviting bids from domestic vendors for the design and development of the system.Once airborne, the Vayu Baan will broadcast real-time video to operators and, if necessary, launch a precision strike using a small weapon on the ship. The drone is expected to have a range of more than 50 km and last about 30 minutes.The drone will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors for target identification, with the ability to operate in GPS-jammed environments. The IAF requires 10 drone units with two airborne and two ground control stations, with the aim of rapid development, testing and delivery within a year.With ‘Vayu Baan’, the Indian Air Force is set to join the select group of countries like the US and China that are working on air-launched unmanned systems. The US Army is investing in ALE as part of its future vertical lift ecosystem. Key technologies include the Area-I ALTIUS (intelligent-launched, tactically integrated unmanned system), which has been demonstrated in tests launched from MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.China is focusing on integrating unmanned rotary-wing aircraft with its existing helicopter fleet, such as the Z-20J, Z-10 and Z-19.