[ahagotyou]

Link BSF helicopter crashes in Raipur

A Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter on Sunday crashed at the Mana Airport in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district.

The crash occurred during a test fly, injuring the two pilots and three technicians.

According to local media reports, the chopper crashed from a height of 100 feet.

The injured were immediately rushed to the nearby Ramkrishna Hospital where the condition of the pilot was said to be critical.

"Five people including two pilots and three technicians have been taken to the Ramkrishna Hospital. The condition of the pilot is critical but all are out of danger. They were taking a trial flight when the accident happened," said Raipur Police Superintendent Vikas Thakur.

The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.

[OlegSan]

Netra UAV inducted into paramilitary

The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are using the drone, titled 'Netra', in counter-insurgency operations.

The autonomous UAV for surveillance and reconnaissance was inducted into the paramilitary forces last month while the army, navy and several state police forces have shown a keen interest in acquiring it, say its makers.

It was developed by Ideaforge Technology Pvt Ltd, a company floated by a group of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Mumbai alumni, and the Pune-based Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

DRDO, after watching the 2009 Aamir Khan-starrer "3 Idiots", tied up with IdeaForge to refine the Netra.

It is designed specifically for anti-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations in forested areas. It can be used in hostage situations like the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, border infiltration monitoring, local law enforcement operations, search and rescue operations, disaster management and aerial photography.

"Ten units of Netra have already been taken by the DRDO for research related works in their laboratories like Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) in Manali while less than a dozen have been provided to paramilitary forces," IdeaForge vice-president (marketing and operations unmanned systems) Amardeep Singh told IANS.

Netra is light-weight (1.5 kg) and portable, constructed using carbon fibre composites, allowing a user to carry the system along with the control station to field locations. Each unit costs around Rs.15-20 lakh.

The operator simply selects the locations from a graphical interface showing the map of the area and specifies the heights with command either to hover or traverse through them.

"We have developed 10 prototypes of Netra that can suit the requirements of paramilitary forces, police and defence forces. We have now given the right of production to IdeaForge and those interested in buying it can directly get in touch with the company," Alok Mukherjee, head of the robotics division of DRDO, told IANS.

Talking about its usage in paramilitary forces, Singh said Netra can help in catching the images of the mass movement of Maoists hiding in difficult terrains and alert the forces about their presence.

"We have also demonstrated the Netra during a political rally in Chandigarh at the request of police and several other state police forces have shown keen interest in procuring it," said Singh.

The company is now working on the next version of Netra in order to increase the flight time from the present 30 minute per battery charge. It can fly in a radius of 1.5 km at an altitudes of around 200 metre.

"Netra flies using four high-speed propellers that allow vertical take-off and landing and provide the power to soar through the skies. It has a wireless video transmitter and high resolution CCD camera with pan/tilt and zoom that sends images back to the operator," said Mukherjee.

The built-in intelligence in the controller allows for fail-safe operations wherein in case of either a communication failure with base station or low battery, the UAV returns to take-off position automatically.

[Nptxsews]

Link Govt to buy Russian choppers for BSF
Deepak K Upreti, New Delhi, Feb3 2012, DHNS:

In the light of the crashes of Dhruv helicopters operated by the Border Security force (BSF), the Ministry of Home Affairs is purchasing six MI-17 cargo choppers from Russia.

â??The government will also acquire more fixed-wing aircrafts for para-military forces,â?� sources told Deccan Herald.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said this week that indigenous Dhruv fleet has been grounded after repeat accidents.

The Ministry of Defence which is acquiring 59 MI-17 helicopters will help it out in buying the choppers, according to home ministry officials.

Chidambaram said he had autÂ*horised wet leasing of some helicopters and was also lookiÂ*ng for buying some more choppers for the security forces.

Besides choppers, MHA is also to acquire more fixed-wing craft for para-military forces in border management and deÂ*aÂ*ling with Left-wing extremism in different parts of the coÂ*untry.

The additional aircraft ordÂ*ered are Embraer EMB 135 (Brazil make-VIP transport) and Beechcraft Super King Air (US make-turbo prop aircraft) and Hawker Siddeley (UK-turbo prop aircraft). BSF largely opÂ*erates most of these aircraft.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has asked for Udhyog helicopters and Embraer transpÂ*ort air crafts, sources said.

The logistics for the expansion of the MHAâ??s air wing , including hangers and pilots training , are being put in place.

The expanded air-wing of the MHA will also have UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to monitor Naxal-affected districts to detect mined roads.

At present, additional reqÂ*uÂ*irements of the MHA is met by the Indian Air Force which regularly lends it helicopters and aircrafts. Recently, the army itself has sought to have a full-fledged air-force of its own.

The demand for a separate air force is pitched not only by the Army but the Navy is also aspiring to have a big airforce. The sea force is keen on more supersonic fighters, reconnaissance aircraft, multi-role and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, UAVs and advanced jet trainers.