Indigenous Rotary Engine tested successfully on Nishant UAV
The indigenous Wankel rotary engine, designed and developed by Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, in association with Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, and NAL for unmanned air vehicle (UAV) Nishant, was successfully tested on 23-24 January 2013.
The engine was integrated on UAV-Nishant. The Wankel engine has high power-to-weight ratio, weighs about 30 kg, and develops power of 55 hp. Nishant with indigenous rotary engine, climbed to an altitude of more than 3.7 km effortlessly and cruised for more than 3 hr against a requirement of 3.6 km. The test fulfilled all the mission requirements.
VRDE obtained airworthiness certification for Limited Series Production (LSP) of the engine on 7 February 2013 from the Chief Executive, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Bengaluru, in presence of Dr VK Saraswat, SA to RM, Secretary Defence R&D and DG DRDO, at ADE, Bangaluru. Dr Saraswat hailed development of the engine as big leap towards nation's self-reliance and congratulated the team for their rigorous efforts. The engine is the first of it kinds,which has achieved airworthiness certification in a non-gas-turbine category.
ADE played an important role during testing and flight trials of the engine. The low cost, state-of-the-art engine was cleared for flight after rigorous ground endurance test runs. The rotary engine project team comprised: Shri D Radhakrishna, Project Director, and team members including Tapkire Abhishek, Ganesh Yewale GS Panchal, PU Shejwal, Santanu Deori, RB Andhale, SS Dahifale, RM Munot, Ravindra Channa, Gaurav Agrawal, and Sayyed Imran.
-DRDO