11 July 2022

East Tech 2022: Indian security forces to test IDR's nano UAV

by Oishee Majumdar & Amit Kalra

An in-flight Doot MK-I nano UAV with ISR package being exhibited at East Tech 2022. The UAV has been tested by NSG and is currently being tested by Assam Rifles in Manipur. (Janes/Amit Kalra)

Noida-based Indian Defence Reforms' (IDR's) Doot MK-I, a nano unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) – has undergone initial tests by India's National Security Guard (NSG) in June, Mayank Pratap Singh, co-founder and CEO of IDR, told Janes at East Tech 2022, held in Kolkata by the Indian Army's Eastern Command on 7 and 8 July.

“The NSG will be conducting field trials of Doot MK-I in the last week of July in Camp Manesar” in India's northern state of Haryana, Singh said.

The Assam Rifles is currently testing Doot MK-I in the northeastern state of Manipur, Singh added.

The UAV will be tested by the “Indian Army's Northern Command”, the Rashtriya Rifles (a counter-insurgency force under the Indian Army), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by the end of 2022, Singh told Janes .

According to Singh, Doot MK-I has a take-off weight of 200 gm, maximum speed of 80 km/h, and an endurance of 30 minutes. With a video range of up to 1.5 km and a radio link of up to 600 m, it has the capability to carry out both indoor and outdoor missions.

Doot MK-I can detect more than 80 objects using artificial intelligence (AI). This includes humans, weapons, military vehicles, installations, and tools, Singh said.

IDR is feeding more data to the UAV to expand the range of objects it can detect, he added.

Noida-based Indian Defence Reforms' (IDR's) Doot MK-I, a nano unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – design...

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