Rustom 2/TAPAS/BH-201 MALE UAV News Updates and Discussions

[Indx TechStyle]

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence​

16-November-2016 18:08 IST​

Successful Maiden Flight of Rustom – II

Heralding a new era in the indigenous development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), DRDO today successfully carried out the maiden flight of TAPAS 201 (RUSTOM – II), a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV. The test flight took place from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, 250 km from Bangalore which is a newly developed flight test range for the testing of UAVs and manned aircraft.

The flight accomplished the main objectives of proving the flying platform, such as take-off, bank, level flight and landing etc..

TAPAS 201, the MALE UAV has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Bangalore-based premier lab of DRDO with HAL-BEL as the production partners. The UAV weighing two tonnes was put into air by a dedicated team of young scientists of DRDO. It was piloted (external and internal) by the pilots from the Armed Forces. It is also the first R&D prototype UAV which has undergone certification and qualification for the first flight from the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA).

TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.

It is noteworthy that the development of UAV immensely contributes towards the Make-in-India initiative as many critical systems such as airframe, landing gear, flight control and avionics sub-systems are being developed in India with the collaboration of private industries. Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) of DRDO has developed the data link for the UAV. Rustom- II will undergo further trials for validating the design parameters, before going for User Validation Trials.

NAo/DM/RAJ



TAPAS UAV......

maan ki aankh,
ek aur naya project!

 

[airtel]

http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...a-finalizes-3b-blueprint-uav-fleets/81637026/






so cost of 1 rustom is between 22-35 million $

cost of 1 heron 40 million $[its armed version]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...p-drones-from-israel/articleshow/48906195.cms

but India is likely to buy 250 predator drones for 5 billion $.that is 20 million $ per unit.. its cheaper than above both ..
how is this possible??will US sell their drones at such a lower price compared to others?

http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/us-predator-drones-coming-to-india/293955/

please check the specifications before comparing the price .............................what is the maximum weight carrying capacity of Rustom-2 , Heron-Tp , MQ-9 reaper respectively ??

More weight carrying capacity means , a drone can carry More sensors & weapons .

what is the range ?

also we dont have Radars & sensors comparable to American Drones , Rustom -2 is not Armed & will enter production after 2019 ............

http://defense-update.com/products/e/eitan-uav.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mq-9-specs.htm

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201607111042789993-india-israel-us-predator-drones/



^check the power of engine , rustom is not even comparable with these two .

 

[Akshay_Fenix]

Official name is now TAPAS 201

 

[Akask kumar]

please check the specifications before comparing the price .............................what is the maximum weight carrying capacity of Rustom-2 , Heron-Tp , MQ-9 reaper respectively ??

More weight carrying capacity means , a drone can carry More sensors & weapons .

what is the range ?

also we dont have Radars & sensors comparable to American Drones , Rustom -2 is not Armed & will enter production after 2019 ............

http://defense-update.com/products/e/eitan-uav.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mq-9-specs.htm

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201607111042789993-india-israel-us-predator-drones/



^check the power of engine , rustom is not even comparable with these two .

RUSTOM 2--
payload - 350 kg
range- 350km
endurance 24 hr

heron--
payload - 250kg
range - 350 km
endurance 52hr

predator-
payload - 500 kg (apprx)
range- 1100 km
endurance 24 hr

rustom 2 is comparable to heron , can carry more .. it can be placed between heron and predator..I dnt know about electronics its carrying.. i hope DRDO must has done good job there and should have equipped rustom with the state of the art recon suit..

but we cant expect it before 2019.. 2 years is a long time.. lot of tweaking will be done.. MTCR membership should bring some upgrades to RUSTOM..

 

[SajeevJino]

What missile will it carry and how many ? What sensor are used ?

from the PBI article posted by @Indx TechStyle

TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.

So it's a ISR drone, not the UCAV model..

 

[Indx TechStyle]

from the PBI article posted by @Indx TechStyle

TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.

So it's a ISR drone, not the UCAV model..

Or Weaponized version may come later.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

from the PBI article posted by @Indx TechStyle

TAPAS 201, a multi-mission UAV is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.

So it's a ISR drone, not the UCAV model..

Or Weaponized version may come later.

Here's the statement I was referring too.

The American RQ-1 Predator is an obvious template for the Rustom program. We’ve built a credible unmanned flying platform. The way the Americans converted a robust surveillance drone into a combat drone is something we are confident we can replicate for the Rustom-H. It will have a great deal of mission flexibility. [..]
[Work] is underway to define the weaponisation process.[12]​

 

[airtel]

RUSTOM 2--
payload - 350 kg
range- 350km
endurance 24 hr

heron--
payload - 250kg
range - 350 km
endurance 52hr

predator-
payload - 500 kg (apprx)
range- 1100 km
endurance 24 hr

rustom 2 is comparable to heron , can carry more .. it can be placed between heron and predator..I dnt know about electronics its carrying.. i hope DRDO must has done good job there and should have equipped rustom with the state of the art recon suit..

but we cant expect it before 2019.. 2 years is a long time.. lot of tweaking will be done.. MTCR membership should bring some upgrades to RUSTOM..

please recheck the specifications ............heron-Tp and heron -1 both are different .
you are comparing price of Latest Heron-Tp (Eiten ) & MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) and giving specifications of outdated Heron-1 & predictor MQ 1 .. India is operation Heron-1 since decades .............and we will get Rustom -2 with similar specification (no , rustom has less endurance ) at Higher price after 2019 ?




compare specifications of MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) which is the cheaper (worth 20 million $ ) .............Heron -Tp (latest armed model worth 40 million $ ) ................and Rustom -2 .


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Eitan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper

^ Rustom -2 is not at all comparable with these two .

Rustom-2 is already outdated & costly .


India should buy this >> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_Avenger

 

[Akask kumar]

please recheck the specifications ............heron-Tp and heron -1 both are different .
you are comparing price of Latest Heron-Tp (Eiten ) & MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) and giving specifications of outdated Heron-1 & predictor MQ 1 .. India is operation Heron-1 since decades .............and we will get Rustom -2 with similar specification (no , rustom has less endurance ) at Higher price after 2019 ?




compare specifications of MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) which is the cheaper (worth 20 million $ ) .............Heron -Tp (latest armed model worth 40 million $ ) ................and Rustom -2 .


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Eitan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper

^ Rustom -2 is not at all comparable with these two .

Rustom-2 is already outdated & costly .


India should buy this >> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_Avenger

thnx for clearing this out .. after watching the specification my mind is paralyzed.. WOW!! we can never catch them unless we develop a powerful engine.. we are way - way behind.. 10 years or more..

indeed Rustom now seems costly to me... God knows when will we solve this engine development issues..? we cant even produce powerful engines for UAVs and dream big for AMCA etc stuff.. even the engine on rustom2 is imported one..what are we worth??

yes Avenger is beast..but the range and endurance both is less compared to heron TP.. if so then how can u say its the best??just by speed ??

 

[airtel]

thnx for clearing this out .. after watching the specification my mind is paralyzed.. WOW!! we can never catch them unless we develop a powerful engine.. we are way - way behind.. 10 years or more..

indeed Rustom now seems costly to me... God knows when will we solve this engine development issues..? we cant even produce powerful engines for UAVs and dream big for AMCA etc stuff.. even the engine on rustom2 is imported one..what are we worth??

not only Engine there are many other problems .........Israeli Heron -Tp also uses American engine .

i dont think Rustom will ever be inducted ..........best option for India is General_Atomics_Avenger

but i think there are some technical problems with USA & India may Buy Israeli Drones & this is why Adani started a Joint venture with Elbit systems .

www.janes.com/article/65381/adani-forms-uav-joint-venture-with-elbit-systems


also Rutom Project is not Useless , it is a technology demonstrator..........our scientists developed many technologies which will be Used in DRDO AURA ...............and we have Ghatak engine too .........so I think DRDO Aura will be a successful and upto date project .

 

[Akask kumar]

not only Engine there are many other problems .........Israeli Heron -Tp also uses American engine .

i dont think Rustom will ever be inducted ..........best option for India is General_Atomics_Avenger

but i think there are some technical problems with USA & India may Buy Israeli Drones & this is why Adani started a Joint venture with Elbit systems .

www.janes.com/article/65381/adani-forms-uav-joint-venture-with-elbit-systems


also Rutom Project is not Useless , it is a technology demonstrator..........our scientists developed many technologies which will be Used in DRDO AURA ...............and we have Ghatak engine too .........so I think DRDO Aura will be a successful and upto date project .

I think Rustom 2 will get inducted ,u dont want to use avenger or heron tp class drones for simple border ,maritime etc regular surveillance .. lets see..
doesnt this sound weird, ADANI in defence manufacturing industry. what i know they make fortune cooking oil..

 

[airtel]

I think Rustom 2 will get inducted ,u dont want to use avenger or heron tp class drones for simple border ,maritime etc regular surveillance .. lets see..
doesnt this sound weird, ADANI in defence manufacturing industry. what i know they make fortune cooking oil..

for that purpose searcher or panchi or heron-1 is cheaper option ...........

ADANI is noob .............but Elbit systems is a very good company , only few Indian companies have money to invest & Adani is one of them ....and all the Indian companies are clueless about defence manufacturing industry .

once upon a time wipro was also a soap manufacturing company .

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Payload-------

SAR

Medium and Long Range Electro Optic Pod

Eventually, Helina, CLGM, and other outside ATGMs.
Credit: @Water Car Engineer

So, airframe will have to be modified before it becomes a combat drone.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Some yellow journalism cannot be taken seriously, The price tag is mention is of prototypes of Indian design compared with production model of foreign design. There are strategic considerations, too. Many countries armed forces rely on allies such as America for the expertise and satellite networks needed to run drones. Such allies can let you down in a pinch and as far as i know the drones from US will be running via their satellites not ours.

Indian Armed forces need no less than 1000 of these in next 10 years, The import here is stop gap solution and not a permanent as its not wise at all.

=========

Use regular fonts, Over sized and colored fonts are not necessary, you can use bold and italic if necessary.

please recheck the specifications ............heron-Tp and heron -1 both are different .
you are comparing price of Latest Heron-Tp (Eiten ) & MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) and giving specifications of outdated Heron-1 & predictor MQ 1 .. India is operation Heron-1 since decades .............and we will get Rustom -2 with similar specification (no , rustom has less endurance ) at Higher price after 2019 ?

compare specifications of MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) which is the cheaper (worth 20 million $ ) .............Heron -Tp (latest armed model worth 40 million $ ) ................and Rustom -2 .
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Eitan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper

^ Rustom -2 is not at all comparable with these two .

Rustom-2 is already outdated & costly .


India should buy this >> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_Avenger

thnx for clearing this out .. after watching the specification my mind is paralyzed.. WOW!! we can never catch them unless we develop a powerful engine.. we are way - way behind.. 10 years or more..

indeed Rustom now seems costly to me... God knows when will we solve this engine development issues..? we cant even produce powerful engines for UAVs and dream big for AMCA etc stuff.. even the engine on rustom2 is imported one..what are we worth??

yes Avenger is beast..but the range and endurance both is less compared to heron TP.. if so then how can u say its the best??just by speed ??

for that purpose or panchi or heron-1 is cheaper option ...........

 

[Akask kumar]

for that purpose searcher or panchi or heron-1 is cheaper option

we will see in 2019.. no point in dragging the topic further, we discussed enough and many doubts are cleared.

 

[Akask kumar]

Payload-------

SAR

Medium and Long Range Electro Optic Pod

Eventually, Helina, CLGM, and other outside ATGMs.
Credit: @Water Car Engineer

So, airframe will have to be modified before it becomes a combat drone.

amazing post . This will shut lot of mouths .Kudos..

 

[tejas warrior]

As far as the TAPAS-201/Rustom-2 is concerned, @DRDO_India intends to have 2 prototypes for each dedicated service version. IAF, IA & IN.

 

[Chinmoy]

please recheck the specifications ............heron-Tp and heron -1 both are different .
you are comparing price of Latest Heron-Tp (Eiten ) & MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) and giving specifications of outdated Heron-1 & predictor MQ 1 .. India is operation Heron-1 since decades .............and we will get Rustom -2 with similar specification (no , rustom has less endurance ) at Higher price after 2019 ?




compare specifications of MQ-9 reaper (Predator B ) which is the cheaper (worth 20 million $ ) .............Heron -Tp (latest armed model worth 40 million $ ) ................and Rustom -2 .


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Eitan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper

^ Rustom -2 is not at all comparable with these two .

Rustom-2 is already outdated & costly .

India should buy this >> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_Avenger

No need to jump around right now buddy........ From what sputnik source you have provided earlier, lets see a few paras.

Sources says that Rustom II will be more cost effective as it is pegged at USD 34 million per unit in comparison to Israel's Heron TP, which consumes a higher share from the limited budget of the Indian defense ministry.

Meanwhile, India's Ministry of Defense recently floated a notification inviting a response from indigenous manufacturers for the procurement of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs for use by three defense services. The Ministry of Defense recently invited responses from local manufacturers for the procurement of MALE UAVs. The notification says, "This will be under the 'Make in India' initiative from Indian companies. The project would be based on proven or matured technologies where fundamental research is not required." Describing the operational requirements of UAVs, the Ministry says, "Altitude ceiling should be around 30,000 ft or above, with endurance that should be more than 25 hrs. The maximum range should be more than 250 kms."

Now its clear that till now Rustom 2 had been designed with what had been specified in the contract. No where it has been said that 'that's it, we are complete'. Next in line is Rustom 3 and as time goes by you are bound to see improvement in Rustom 2 regarding its TOW, endurance and range. Its been tested for 100km only this time.

Thing is, its good to compare what has already been achieved. But while comparing just keep in mind what could fulfill your need. Try to achieve excellence, but in doing so don't disturb your base and rather try to build your excellence based on it.

 

[republic_roi97]

http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/03/idn-take-rustom-2-get-set-go.html

The biggest challenge being faced is an overweight airframe which weights 700kg more, the added weight obliged ADE to fit larger power plant namely the Austro AE300 diesel Engine rated at 170 hp.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The above article dated back Tuesday, March 15, 2016 , Back then it was an assumption, Now it is clear that delay done for better as the engines were 200hp from Indigenous source ( Mahindra ).


The specs of new engines are largely unavailable, One might have to check out Mahindra site for their engines used on their design aircraft.