DRDO’s ADE to Equip Armed Archer-NG UAV with Made In India Weapon Systems

The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is getting ready to equip its most recent item, the Armed Archer-NG Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), with a powerful array of Made In India weapons. The Archer-NG, slated for release later this year, will be outfitted with a wide variety of weapons systems to transform it into a strong combat UAV that can handle a range of missions.

With its four hard points, the Armed Archer-NG is able to carry a payload of up to 300 kg, giving it the versatility to integrate various weapon system combinations. The Third Generation “Fire & Forget” UAV Launched Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM) Anti-Tank Guided Missile is one of the main weapons in the arsenal of the Archer-NG. This missile has a 4 km range and can destroy soft-skinned targets, cars, bunkers, tanks, windows, and moving targets, making it a useful and deadly weapon on the battlefield. Three other variants of this missile with an increased range of more than 6 kilometers are also being prepared by DRDO, substantially boosting its potency.

The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, another potent device that is intended for the Archer-NG, weighs only 125 kg yet has a remarkable range of 100 km. Because of this weapon’s unique ability to engage ground targets with extreme precision, enemy airfields and vital infrastructure can be efficiently neutralized.

The Archer-NG will have laser-guided rockets and bombs in addition to precision-guided weapons, which will increase its capabilities in areas with limited air defense systems. The UAV can engage targets with precision and cause the least amount of collateral damage thanks to these precise weaponry.

The Archer-NG will also carry UAV-launched loitering munitions to increase its range and adaptability. After being fired from the UAV, these glide weapons can travel up to 100 kilometers, enabling longer missions and the potential to hit targets at a wider range.

In its effort to improve the capabilities of the Archer-NG, DRDO is not stopping there. The group intends to work with businesses in the private sector to create a mini-cruise missile that can be fired from an armed UAV. The Archer-NG’s strike capabilities will be significantly improved by this mini-cruise missile, which will be built to attack heavily fortified targets at long standoff distances.

A potent and adaptable combat UAV, ready to be made available to the Indian Tri-service, will be made possible by the integration and testing of these Made In India weapon systems on the Archer-NG. The Armed Archer-NG MALE UAV is expected to become a crucial component of India’s defense arsenal thanks to its versatility in mission execution and ability to engage a variety of targets with accuracy and lethality. It will give the armed forces more situational awareness and operational flexibility.

By – Manshi Arora, Roorkee