India's Current & Future UAVs & UCAVs

[cobra commando]

HAL To Develop Unmanned
Combat Aerial Vehicles

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will take on a more active role in the Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) sector, according to R.K. Tyagi, chairman of HAL. Among India's home grown drones is the Rustom-H which is expected to take flight sometime this year. Designed and manufactured by Aeronautical Development Establishment, a subsidiary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Rustom has three variants: Rustom-1, Rustom-H and Rustom-C. The Rustom-1 is a standard model built for tactical surveillance. The variant took off for its maiden flight from Taneja Aerospace and Aviation (TAAL) airfield in May 2011.
It has an endurance of 12 to 14 hours. The Rustom-H will be larger than Rustom-1 and can fly for a maximum of 24 hours. It will be powered by two conventional wing mounted turboprop engines. A military version of Rustom-H, the Rustom-C, will execute both combat and surveillance missions. It will carry a guided strike munitions on each wing. Another DRDO smart drone program dubbed AURA or autonomous unmanned research aircraft is aimed at developing defense weapon systems. In 2010, the DRDO confirmed that all technologies required for the UCAV had been identified, most importantly, the flying wing and stealth technology. India currently operates its arsenal of Israeli-made UAVs including the Heron, Searcher Mk.2 surveillance drones and Harop self-destructing UCAVs.

HAL To Develop Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

HAL To Develop Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles | idrw.org

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

On Modi’s US wishlist: Drones for defence, internal security | idrw.org

 

[cobra commando]

TTD to Buy UAV for Tirumala Security - The New Indian Express

 

[cobra commando]

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Scientists developing futuristic tech for swarm UAV missions

 

[Twinblade]

Rustom II delayed due to actuators.
DRDO

First flight not happening before the end of this year.

 

[Jagdish58]

Livefist: India's Rustom II UAS Set For Winter Flight Debut

 

[cobra commando]

Researchers at IIT-Kanpur have developed India's first low- altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could be used for anything from patrolling the border to traffic and crowd monitoring.

The P1 measures 2.82 metres and has a wingspan of 3.3m. It can stay up in the air for 10 hours straight. (Photo courtesy: IIT- Kanpur)

The aircraft, called P1, is commanded by a computer pilot on the ground. It can fly for more than 10 hours continuously at an altitude of up to 5,000ft and has a wide operating radius of 150km. "We anticipate both civilian and military applications. The system could even carry environmental sensors like Chromium sensors on it and fly over river Ganges to measure the pollution levels," co- principal investigator, Dr. Deepu Philip told HT. The UAV had its first field trial on August 14 and can be used for highway patrolling, traffic and crowd monitoring (in case of riots) or crop and pollution surveillance. The armed forces are also keen to test the aircraft for its use. The project started in January 2014 and was jointly funded by IIT Kanpur and Prabhu Goel foundation. "The entire system was designed using a systems engineering approach, to meet the desired specifications and target the need of Low Altitude Long Endurance (LALE). During the initial test flights at IIT Kanpur air strip, we were able to reach altitude of 1,000 feet," Philip told HT. IIT Kanpur and Aurora Integrated Systems of Bangalore collaborated in testing and manufacturing of the aircraft. The UAV is a product of synergy between start-up firms and academic institutions that promotes an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Eye in the sky: Army eyeing IIT-made UAV for border patrolling - Hindustan Times

 

[Dhairya Yadav]

when will rustom C be operational?

 

[Twinblade]

when will rustom C be operational?

It will start weapon testing in 2017-18. Till then a weaponised Rustom-1 will do.

 

[Dhairya Yadav]

It will start weapon testing in 2017-18. Till then a weaponised Rustom-1 will do.

could be used as a robust attack aircraft to counter insurgents...

 

[cobra commando]

Livefist: EXCLUSIVE: Another Peep Into India's Secret Stealth UCAV Project

 

[Twinblade]

Saurav Jha: And what is the status of the flagship Turbofan development, the Kaveri?

Avinash Chander: Kaveri was tested continuously for 53 hours on a flying test bed in Russia where all the major parameters were proven. There were certain observations which are now being addressed at the lab level. We have put up a proposal to the government to continue. So that we have a viable engine at the end of it. More importantly Kaveri will have to be modified for use in the unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). As that comes under MTCR and nobody will give us engines. So Kaveri will essentially be a lifeline for that program.

Saurav Jha: What is the status of that program?

Avinash Chander: Designs are getting finalized. We are going through the final stages of reviews.

Saurav Jha: When will we see a prototype of the UCAV? Will we see it by 2017 or so?

Avinash Chander: I don't think it will come that fast. Aircraft prototyping the typical cycle is 5-6 years. But we are working on it.

Saurav Jha's Blog : Interview with Dr Avinash Chander, DRDO Chief and Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister

 

[cobra commando]

Namma UAV Gets Rave Reviews in US - The New Indian Express

 

[cobra commando]

Demo on ATOL Role of Rustom-1 UAV - The New Indian Express

 

[cobra commando]

UAV Panchi Warms Up for Maiden Flight - The New Indian Express

 

[cobra commando]

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Video of MAV Imperial Eagle (Indian Eagle) in operation

 

[cobra commando]

India's MAV #BlackKite built by ADE, NAL combo.
(Source: Tarmak007)

 

[cobra commando]

HAL will partner with DRDO in the Rustom-1 and Rustom-2 projects as part of HAL's new focus on UAVs DRDO Chief Chief Avinash Chander told Unmanned magazine in a recent interview. Earlier in June, 2014, HAL Chief Dr. RK Tyagi announced in a press release that HAL will take-up more activities in Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) business segments. DRDO Chief Avinash Chander gave the following additional insight into DRDO's efforts at meeting growing UAV requirements of the nation, particularly its armed forces. The Navy has projected a requirement for a 10-t class RUAV. DRDO is developing technology for the RUAV but is yet undecided on whether to convert an existing unmanned platform (like Chetak) to a RUAV, or develop a RUAV from scratch. DRDO is actively working on a solar powered ISR UAV capable of remaining aloft for weeks at a time. It's also developing technology for a solar powered ISR airship capable of remaining on station at an altitude of 50-60 km for months at a stretch. In the future, DRDO plans to pursue development of UAV swarms which theoretically are more resilient and adaptive in performing their tasks. It maybe noted that HAL is also independently working on a RUAV project in partnership with Israel. The project involves converting a Chetak helicopter into an unmanned air vehicle. The Indian Navy has projected an initial requirement for 8 such helicopters. The order size may eventually grow to 40 aircraft. The unmanned Chetak uses a flight control system developed by IAI using a Bell Helicopter 206. The Malat unmanned air systems (UAS) division of IAI is working with HAL on the project under a wider cooperation agreement. Here is the DRDO Chief's interview with Unammned magazine.
Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: HAL, DRDO to Partner in Rustom UAV Project
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e67uPCdWBkw

 

[kumar2310s]

Recently during recent pak border firing, it was reported on an Indian News channel that pakistan is using UAVs to track indian positions and that was the reason, their firing was on India BSF posts.

Is this correct? Why cant we track Pakistani posts with our UAVs and fire with precision on their hardware and their posts? We have Space program. Are we not developed enough to track their border positioning and fire on their border posts with accuracy? Is there no coordination between Space Agencies getting intelligence and the BSF on the border when they reply to pak's ceasefire violations?