News: Recently, at the end of July month, India and the USA have signed a co-development Project Agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV). Read the news here.
Let’s understand in Simple Langauge for UPSC:
The development of ALUAV comes under the ambit of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). The Project Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence. The Defence Ministry confirmed that the Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) will be developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Indian Air Force, and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). They will help in designing, demonstration, development, testing and evaluation of the prototype.
About DTTI for UPSC:
The Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), was announced in 2012 as an initiative for co-production and co-development of military systems. The main aim of DTTI was to bring a sustained leadership focus to promote collaborative technology exchange between both India and the USA. Under DTTI, the focus of both India and the USA is to work collaboratively to strengthen their defence on land, air, water and aircraft carrier technologies.
What is Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV):
Generally, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’s (UAVs) fly from land or warships into the air and then return back to the position decided. But US defence is now planning for advanced UAV’s wherein the Unmanned Aerial vehicles will take off from a plane. This will be known as Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV). The Project Agreement (PA) for the ALUAV is under the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Memorandum of Agreement that was first signed between the Ministry Of Defence (MoD) and the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) in 2006. However, the agreement was renewed in 2015. The US Defence have done initial testing for an air-launched UAV and is now in the process of fine-tuning to retrieve the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in the air.
What are drones?
A drone is a layman terminology for Unmanned Aircraft (UA). There are three subsets of Unmanned Aircraft- Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Autonomous Aircraft and Model Aircraft.
Drone Policy in India for UPSC:
The National Drones Policy, called “Drone Regulations 1.0” drafted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation came into effect from December 1, 2018. With the policy coming into effect, flying drones or remotely piloted aircraft have become legal in India.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has designed five different categories of drones as Nano, Micro, Small, Medium, and Large.
- drones which weigh less than 250 grams or equal does not need a registration or license.
- However, drones that belong to remaining categories will need to be registered on the Digital Sky portal.
- Digital Sky portal is an online platform as part of an enforcement system designated as No Permission No Takeoff (NPNT).
- Following registration, DGCA will issue a Unique Identification Number (UIN) or Unmanned Aircraft Operator’s Permit (UAOP).
- Flying in the ‘green zones’ will require only intimation of the time and location of the flights via the portal or the app. But permissions will be required for flying in ‘yellow zones’, and flights will not be allowed in the ‘red zones’.
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the draft Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2020.
After seeking comments and holding consultations with stakeholders for almost 10 months for draft Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Rules 2020, the government has finally notified the UAS Rules, 2021, which have come into effect on 15th March, 2021. These Rules replace the Civil Aviation Requires (CAR) on the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) which have regulated the space since 2018.
UAS Rules, 2021.
- Aims to regulate the production, import, trade, ownership, establishment of the drone ports (airports for drones) and operation of unmanned aircraft systems.
- UAS classified as nano, micro, small, medium and large unmanned aircraft based on the maximum all up weight including its pay load ranging from <250gram to 150 kilograms. Nano UAs can be classified in the next higher category if it exceeds performance parameters of flight speed and height.
- An authorised manufacturer or importer of drones can sell its devices only to an individual or entity approved bythe aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- All UAS, except nano category, have to be equipped with flashing anti-collision strobe lights, flight data logging capability, secondary surveillance radar transponder, real-time tracking system and 360 degree collision avoidance system, among others.
- All UAS including nano category, are required to be equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System, Autonomous Flight Termination System or Return to Home option, geo-fencing capability and flight controller, among others.
- Only Nano class drones will be allowed to operate in India in general and only a qualified remote pilot will be permitted to operate heavier drones.
- The DGCA will have the powers to inspect a UAS manufacturing or maintenance facility before granting any authorisation under these rules.
- Third Party Insurance: Valid third-party insurance has to be availed to cover incidents causing death or bodily injury to any person or damage to property. Nano class is exempted from the insurance requirement.
- Businesses operating drones have to be substantially owned and effectively controlled by Indian nationals.
Questions Current Affairs UPSC:
Consider the following statements regarding Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021:
- Valid third-party insurance has to be availed for all drones, to cover incidents causing death or bodily injury to any person or damage to property.
- Businesses operating drones have to be fully owned and effectively controlled by Indian nationals.
- All UAS including nano category, are required to be equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System, Autonomous Flight Termination System or Return to Home option, geo-fencing capability and flight controller, among others.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A 1 and 2 only
B 1, 2 and 3
C 1 and 3 only
D 3 only
Answer: D
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