- April 27, 2023
UP police acquiring 84 specialised drones from Pune startup to check gun-smuggling, rioting | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: To keep a tight check on anti-social elements and use of weapons by mafia, UP Police is going hi-tech as it has signed a contract with a Pune-based robotics startup to deliver 84 specialised drones with day and night visual capability and thermal imaging features to detect hidden arms and ammunition. The drones will also help UP police control rioting and improve aerial surveillance.
Sagar Defence Engineering has bagged the contract at less than Rs 10 lakh per drone.
Though the UP government had acquired simple drones earlier for surveillance purpose during the Kumbh Mela, this is the first time the state has ordered specialised drones as these have two advanced cameras and one microphone for generating awareness, issuing warnings and making announcements for effective policing.
Sagar founder and MD Nikunj Parashar told TOI, “These drones that weigh around 6.5kg can operate for an hour and for a distance of 5km on a single charge. Drones of the same platform with different payloads were earlier acquired by the Indian Navy from us. The Navy uses these drones on high seas for keeping surveillance around its warships and for keeping an eye on enemy vessels, pirates, gun-runners and drug-smugglers.”
Parashar said his company has already started production of these specialised and “will deliver all 84 drones to the UP police by the last week of May”. He also said that the UP Special Task Force had recently acquired some drones from his company for anti-criminal operations.
The company also had earlier supplied Mumbai Police with a similar drone technology during the peak time of the Covid pandemic, where a Sagar team was deployed to assist frontline warriors in controlling crowds and for spreading awareness about Covid norms and vaccination.
“Our products have always proven to be pathbreaking for all the security needs of various security forces, including the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, BSF and DRDO.” the Sagar Defence MD said. The company has also indigenously developed and deployed a one-of-a-kind technology that enables drones to perform autonomous launch and recovery from any moving platform, marine or land.
Sagar Defence Engineering has bagged the contract at less than Rs 10 lakh per drone.
Though the UP government had acquired simple drones earlier for surveillance purpose during the Kumbh Mela, this is the first time the state has ordered specialised drones as these have two advanced cameras and one microphone for generating awareness, issuing warnings and making announcements for effective policing.
Sagar founder and MD Nikunj Parashar told TOI, “These drones that weigh around 6.5kg can operate for an hour and for a distance of 5km on a single charge. Drones of the same platform with different payloads were earlier acquired by the Indian Navy from us. The Navy uses these drones on high seas for keeping surveillance around its warships and for keeping an eye on enemy vessels, pirates, gun-runners and drug-smugglers.”
Parashar said his company has already started production of these specialised and “will deliver all 84 drones to the UP police by the last week of May”. He also said that the UP Special Task Force had recently acquired some drones from his company for anti-criminal operations.
The company also had earlier supplied Mumbai Police with a similar drone technology during the peak time of the Covid pandemic, where a Sagar team was deployed to assist frontline warriors in controlling crowds and for spreading awareness about Covid norms and vaccination.
“Our products have always proven to be pathbreaking for all the security needs of various security forces, including the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, BSF and DRDO.” the Sagar Defence MD said. The company has also indigenously developed and deployed a one-of-a-kind technology that enables drones to perform autonomous launch and recovery from any moving platform, marine or land.
