iok 400ISLAMABAD: Strengthening the capability of its troops to suppress the ongoing liberation struggle of people in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK), the Indian Army is buying 20 man-portable, mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be deployed to gather intelligence and mount surveillance in the occupied territory.

Indian Army, which is buying 20 mini-UAVs, are being bought by the Udhampur-based Northern Indian Army Command. Earlier, this month, it issued a tender open to global original equipment manufacturers, reported KMS.

The tender for the 20 mini-UAVs has been issued by the Udhampur based Northern Command of the Army and the deal is expected to be less than Rs50 lakhs, Indian Army officials said. "The UAVs should be able to remain airborne for at least 60 minutes," officials said.

The mini-UAV that the Indian troops will get will weigh less than 10 kg and can be transported on the shoulders of a trooper. The mini-UAV will have cameras, including an infrared one, for night use.

It also comes equipped with recording devices and sensors for mounting surveillance. `We have asked for mini-UAVs that can be assembled by the troops themselves within 20 minutes and deployed for about an hour over a specific area of about five-km radius,' the reports said.

Indian armed forces are at present using about 100 Searcher-II and 60 Heron UAVs, both from the Israeli stable. India is also in the process of developing indigenous UAVs such as Nishant and Rustom.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012

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