Unmanned cargo delivery is a simple concept and the one country in the world that needs it most is India. Yet the DRDO has shown no interest in the concept. The Unmanned K-MAX is shown conducting high altitude flight trials in the Colorado Rockies, July 2009. Photo Credit: Lockheed MartinSeptember 30, 2009, (Sawf News) - Unmanned cargo delivery is a simple concept and the one country in the world that needs it most is India. Yet the DRDO has shown no interest in the concept.
The US is waking up to the potential of unmanned cargo delivery after just a few years in Afghanistan fighting terrorists holed in mountains not unlike the ones that we have along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) separating India and China, and the Line of Control (LOC) separating Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Ironically, the Indian Army has lived with the problem for 60 years without exploring and technological solutions to it.
Unmanned Cargo Delivery Imperative
The imperative for unmanned cargo delivery is easily understandable. Troops usually operate in areas with no road infrastructure. As it is, roads are difficult to construct in mountainous terrain and almost impossible to keep open during winters because of snow fall and landslides.
Supply of troops by fixed wing aircraft is constrained by the high costs of constructing and maintaining airstrips, besides inclement weather that is characteristic of mountainous territory.
Logistical support to troops perched on mountains is best provided using helicopters because they require no support infrastructure to operate.
Mountainous terrain precludes the use of heavy armament such as tanks and big guns. A bulk of the support task in such terrain involves the supply of rations, clothing, medical aide and ammunition. Helicopters can carry such supplies easily.
Helicopters too are constrained by weather and are always at risk of being engaged by the enemy. However, since there has never been a better alternative, they have lumbered along.
US Marine Corp's quest for Unmanned Cargo
The US Marine Corp is on the look out for unmanned helicopters for early deployment to Afghanistan to resupply hard-to-reach forward bases.
Unmanned helicopters capable of operating autonomously represent leading edge technology that is just beginning to mature. The technology is well beyond DRDO or the Indian private sector at this point of time.
A less sophisticated but considerably cheaper solution could be to use remotely piloted / autonomous airships. It is technology that is within DRDO's grasp and has been so since decades.
A US Marine Corp general would probably mouth some many colorful expletive if someone suggested the use of airships to supply marines fighting the Taliban.
The operational costs of airships maybe very low but Airships are slow and easily targeted by the enemy. Being lighter than air, they are also difficult to use in turbulent or strong wind conditions, the type that are encountered almost the entire day in mountains.
So why DRDO should be working on unmanned airships?
Unlike their US Marine Corp counterparts, Indian Army generals don't have to resupply troops through hostile terrain. The airships will be flying through airspace controlled and completely dominated by us, so its slow speed will not endanger it.
Turbulence and strong winds too can be made a non issue by operating such airships during late nights and early morning hours when weather tends to be good and the air calm.
Airships vs Futuristic Concept
The US Air Force's Air Mobility Command (AMC) is seeking ideas for unmanned cargo aircraft concepts.
Here is what the AMC is looking for according to the Aviation Week and Space Technology blog Ares.
"Conceptually, the unmanned air vehicle should autonomously deliver 500-3000 lbs of cargo to a strategic combat radius of 500 nautical miles, at airspeeds of 250 knots (or equivalent Mach number) or greater, with a VTOL/STOL capability of 300 feet. Other attributes could include an air launched glide capability, powered capability, ship-based/recoverable capable, unprepared surface landing capable, skid landing, floatation capable, reusable, and inexpensive."
An unmanned airship would fit the requirement beautifully, except for the 250 knot airspeed requirement. But then why would an airship operating at night in friendly skies need such speeds?
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