India is betting on building a leading drone industry, with the government setting aside $385 million for research and development over the next five years. India's drone market is estimated to be worth more than $2 billion by 2020, which could grow to more than $5 billion if India starts exporting drones.
This article will analyze why India is betting on a drone industry and how it is using drones in its defense sector while also exploring how they are benefiting various sectors of the economy. How is India using drones?
Drones are used in many sectors, including telecoms, mapping, agriculture, security, and defense. In June 2017, the Indian Armed Forces began using drones for reconnaissance and surveillance over the Sino-India border.
[1] Drones are being used for defense purposes such as aerial photography and monitoring of border areas between India and China.
[2] They can also detect mines and landmines from a distance, increase personnel safety through real-time mapping of areas, and reduce the risks of accidents by eliminating human error in patrolling.
[3] They can assist farmers by providing real-time information on crop health conditions, water availability, soil quality, and weather monitoring.
[4] One farmer who uses drones to monitor his crops reports a 30–40% increase in productivity compared to those who do not.
[5] Drone manufacturing began in India in 1988 when the country's first drone was developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The DRDO has since then developed several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with a primary focus on developing UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, and surveillance (ISTAR) missions.
[6] The Indian Army is currently testing 10 UAV models manufactured by six Indian firms after a $462 million tender for 110 mini-UAVs was floated in June last year.
Drones are also being sold to Indian farmers as agricultural robots to make crop harvesting more efficient.
[7] Rural areas in northern and eastern India are in dire need of irrigation, and agricultural drones can be used to augment water supplies and improve crop health.
[8] Drones can also be used for aerial photography of crops and livestock for use in assessing potential harvests, planning green-agriculture initiatives, collecting data on soil quality during fertility interventions, monitoring weather conditions to reduce food spoilage, detecting early signs of locust infestation and pest outbreaks, and facilitating real-time monitoring of crops.
(9)Drones can also play an essential role in non-agricultural spheres.
Citations from third parties
India has the potential to become a worldwide drone hub by 2030, he argues the BBC, given its historical strengths in innovation, information technology, cost-effective engineering, and its enormous domestic demand. Mr. Dubey anticipates investing up to 50 billion rupees (£550 million; $630 million) in the industry during the following three years.
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
