India to unveil its indigenous drone ‘Varuna’ at the Republic Day Parade 2024

The Varuna drone has a maximum payload capacity of 130 kilograms and can travel a distance of 25 to 30 kilometers. 

As part of the Republic Day parade on Thursday, India’s first indigenous passenger drone, “Varuna,” built by Sagar Defense Engineering in Pune, will be featured in the Navy tableau on the Kartavya Path. The tableau’s main segment highlights the Navy’s “Make in India” initiatives, and “Varuna” emphasizes the significance of the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” mission. 

The launch of “Varuna” marks a significant step forward for India‘s efforts to develop its own drone technology. The country has been looking to expand its drone capabilities in recent years, with a focus on defense, civilian, and commercial applications. The government has also been pushing for the use of drones in various sectors, such as agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure development. 

Indian Navy’s tableau for Republic Day 2024

The tableau on display at RDP-23 showcases the Indian Navy’s theme of being “combat ready, credible, cohesive, and future proof.” It aims to exhibit the Navy’s various capabilities, including its indigenously designed and constructed equipment. Varuna, India’s first passenger drone, will take to the skies on Thursday after being inducted into the navy. 

The tableau also emphasizes the role of women in the Navy, featuring a model of an all-woman crew of a Dornier aircraft on a surveillance mission. Additionally, the tableau includes models of indigenous ships and submarines and autonomous unmanned systems being developed by the Navy as a part of its “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” initiatives. 

Varuna, India’s very own passenger carrying UAV  

Varuna is an indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle built by Sagar Defense Engineering in Pune. Varuna is built under the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” or “Make in India” initiative. The drone can be used for various purposes like cargo logistics, surveillance, and medical evacuations. Varuna can play a key role in operations by deploying or airlifting soldiers from war and conflict zones.

Varuna is capable of carrying one passenger and can fly at an altitude of around 1,000 feet. It has a range of 20–30 km, can fly at a speed of 30 km/h, and can also withstand winds of up to 45 km/h. Varuna is powered by electric motors and is equipped with several advanced technologies, including autonomous navigation and obstacle detection systems.

Varuna has capability of being launched both from the ships as well as shore stations. Providing a major boost for the navy. These drones can provide 24-hour surveillance and can also play an important role in security operations along with search and rescue missions. Shifting men and material on the high seas would be a challenging task and would be done by using ropes tied to helicopters, but it is on its way to replace the naval helicopters and change the whole scenario.  

The pilotless drone Varuna if in case fails or encountered a problem mid-air, would the trigger open the ballistic parachute. The parachute opens up in air and the passenger is therefore landed to safety.  Thus, making Varuna one of the safest UAVs.

Drones like Varuna can play a significant role in naval operations

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can be used for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and operations. Drones like Varuna can even operate in areas that are too dangerous for manned aircraft and can provide a cost-effective alternative to manned aircraft in many situations. They can provide real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, which can help identify potential threats and improve situational awareness.   

Additionally, the use of drones for mine detection and clearing can help to improve the safety of naval operations and protect ships from threats. Furthermore, Drones can be used for delivering supplies, payloads and spare parts to ships at sea, which can improve the logistic capabilities of naval operations. Some navies have also begun to explore the use of armed drones for offensive operations.  

The use of drones also allows for increased operational flexibility and can reduce the risk to human life in dangerous or inaccessible environments. In conclusion, the use of drones in naval operations can enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of a navy in a variety of ways.