UAVs and UCAVs

[Parthy]

Rustom-1 to don the role of short-range UAV; Rustom-H project is officially R-II now

Rustom-1 which has completed all test flights is likely to be used as a short-range UAV by the users. Sources tell Tarmak007 that Rustom-1 (2006-2011) was a technology interface (TI) project for Rustom-H and it has completed all test flights. Among the proven capabilities include:
(i) taxi take-off with automatic nose-wheel steering;
(ii) extended pilot control for taking the platform to the centre of the runway;
(iii) autopilot mode for the flights, including way-point navigation (WPN) and get-you-home features;
(iv) redundant Flight Control System, hardware and software and (v) integrated C-Band data-link.

"These proven features have made Rustom-1 a UAV of its own, which the users (Army) are interested to use as a short-range platform," sources said.


Read more - Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Rustom-1 to don the role of short-range UAV; Rustom-H project is officially R-II now

 

[JAISWAL]

Rustom-1 to don the role of short-range UAV; Rustom-H project is officially R-II now

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Rustom-1 to don the role of short-range UAV; Rustom-H project is officially R-II now

Rustom-1 which has completed all test flights is likely to be used as a short-range UAV by the users. Sources tell Tarmak007 that Rustom-1 (2006-2011) was a technology interface (TI) project for Rustom-H and it has completed all test flights. Among the proven capabilities include: (i) taxi take-off with automatic nose-wheel steering; (ii) extended pilot control for taking the platform to the centre of the runway; (iii) autopilot mode for the flights, including way-point navigation (WPN) and get-you-home features; (iv) redundant Flight Control System, hardware and software and (v) integrated C-Band data-link.
"These proven features have made Rustom-1 a UAV of its own, which the users (Army) are interested to use as a short-range platform," sources said.
With the Rs 1,500 crore already sanctioned in February 2011 for the Rustom-H project, the DRDO now hopes to have the platform flying latest by 2014 March. "We are confident that the user will fly it as a high-altitude long endurance (HALE) platform," sources said.
Interestingly, the Rustom-H project will be henceforth called as Rustom-II. This forced name-change was the result of a 'possible typing error' by some MoD staff during the fund sanction phase, early this year. "The sanction came as Rustom-II and we realised what could have gone wrong. Anyways, the first one was called Rustom-I and it suits well to call the next one Rustom-II -- instead of Rustom-H. Just a small name-change and the features will remain the same as envisaged for Rustom-H," sources said.

 

[Shaitan]

I like Rustom 1 a lot..

 

[Rahul Singh]

While Rustom-1 has been called a corps level reconnaissance UAV, the basic layout and design permits it to evolve as a Predator class UCAV.

 

[gogbot]

While Rustom-1 has been called a corps level reconnaissance UAV, the basic layout and design permits it to evolve as a Predator class UCAV.

Its way to small and cannot carry the payload.
It only has 12 hours endurance.

Predators a two leagues ahead.
As one they are more in the class of the Rustom-ii/H
and second they are already an UCAV.

 

[Tshering22]

Rustom 1 can be used similar to Israeli Searcher II-- just enough to scout for enemies and maybe use as a laser-guiding interface for smart artillery shells to bombard on enemy trucks. I don't know whether we have that tech to synch UAV's targeting capabilities with guiding of Artillery shells straight into the heart of the enemy.

I wonder what happened to that 155 mm self propelled howitzer that ARDE was claiming that it could make indigenously.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Its way to small and cannot carry the payload.
It only has 12 hours endurance.

Predators a two leagues ahead.
As one they are more in the class of the Rustom-ii/H
and second they are already an UCAV.

Gogbot i am talking about arming it with 2 x Helina only. With all those required targeting systems already on-board Rustam-1 can deploy short range AGMs at will. If weight of the payload is the problem then upgrade the engine, strengthen the airframe may be even increase the length. To my belief Wing shape and Span of Rustam is ideal for carrying couple of short range AGMs. And an armed UAV at corps level would give Army immense capability in detecting infiltration and meeting it with force without rushing men there.

I wonder what happened to that 155 mm self propelled howitzer that ARDE was claiming that it could make indigenously.

Tshring. DRDO started work on FHG project sometime ago but since it is not officially sanctioned project the pace will be slow until and unless Army steps in with concrete GSQR. One may say it is just an experimental project or feeder project like ICV Abhay.

 

[gogbot]

Gogbot i am talking about arming it with 2 x Helina only. With all those required targeting systems already on-board Rustam-1 can deploy short range AGMs at will. If weight of the payload is the problem then upgrade the engine, strengthen the airframe may be even increase the length. To my belief Wing shape and Span of Rustam is ideal for carrying couple of short range AGMs. And an armed UAV at corps level would give Army immense capability in detecting infiltration and meeting it with force without rushing men there.

That's a gross over simplification of what needs to be done.
Your adding significant payload onto it for starters , reducing maximum range.
You have to consider the drag from the hard points themselves

All this is going to eat away at range and endurance.

You would have to install hard-points and hard-point controls.
Based on the compactness of the design this would be either complicated or doable.

You would need a Fire control radar(FCR) on top of all the sensors to fly and shoot using the Rustam-1 , does Rustam-1 have an FCR ?

you could configure it to drop motor rounds like bombs however. But that's a new development. And i can't judge its practicality

 

[Kunal Biswas]

 

[redalert]

Battle of Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) | idrw.org

good comparison of UCAV prjects around the world

 

[LETHALFORCE]

France tips Dassault to supply new drones

France tips Dassault to supply new drones

France is in talks with French group Dassault Aviation to buy medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drones to enter service in 2014, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said on Thursday.

"This acquisition will replace the drone system currently used by the armed forces, pending the entry into service around 2020 of the next generation of machines, developed as part of a Franco-British cooperation agreement signed in November 2010," Longuet said in a statement.

Dassault Aviation is offering a French version of the Israeli Heron TP drone, built in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

No further details on a possible deal were provided, but the announcement is seen as a victory for the French group over US rival General Atomic which makes the Reaper drone and European group EADS which makes the Harfang currently used by French forces and also based on an Israeli design.

Two next generation European drones are competing for markets to enter service towards the end of th decade: the Telemos developed jointly by Dassault Aviation and Britain's BAE Systems and EADS' Talarion.

 

[A chauhan]

WASP: The Linux-powered flying spy drone that cracks Wi-Fi & GSM networks

The Black Hat Security Conference and DEFCON bring together the world's professional hackers, security researchers, goverment representatives, journalists, and just about anyone who thinks of themselves as a hacker. They listen to talks about security, show off the latest novel hacks, and generally share information about the state of computer security.

Every year there's a highlight to the conferences, and this year it looks like that highlight may be a flying drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This drone is called the Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform, or WASP. It's an ex-U.S. Army spy drone measuirng over 6-feet in length and wingspan that has been modified to make it more useful for hackers in our built-up, communication-heavy urban environments.



If you happen to see this yellow drone flying above your neighborhood you'd be right to be concerned. WASP is equipped with the tools to crack Wi-Fi network passwords made possible by an on-board VIA EPIA Pico-ITX PC running BackTrack Linux equipped with 32GB of storage to record information. BackTrack offers a full suite of digital forensics and penetration testing tools making it a good fit for this setup.(more on their site...)

WASP: The Linux-powered flying spy drone that cracks Wi-Fi & GSM networks | Geek.com

 

[LETHALFORCE]

HALE-D Demonstrated During Abbreviated Flight

HALE-D Demonstrated During Abbreviated Flight

The U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin launched the first-of-its kind High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator this morning, demonstrating a number of key technologies critical to development of unmanned airships.

The aircraft successfully launched at 5:47 a.m. out of the Airdock in Akron, Ohio. The airship reached an altitude of approximately 32,000 feet, however, a technical anomaly prevented the airship from attaining its target altitude of 60,000 feet and the HALE-D team decided to terminate the flight.

The aircraft descended without incident at 8:26 a.m. in southwestern Pennsylvania to a predetermined landing location. Lockheed Martin is coordinating with state and local authorities to recover the airship. We have confirmed that no injuries or damage were experienced during this landing in a heavily wooded area.

"While we didn't reach the target altitude, first flights of new technologies like HALE-D also afford us the ability to learn and test with a mind toward future developments," said Dan Schultz, vice president ship and aviation systems for Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems and Sensors business.

"We demonstrated a variety of advanced technologies, including launch and control of the airship, communications links, unique propulsion system, solar array electricity generation, remote piloting communications and control capability, in-flight operations, and controlled vehicle recovery to a remote un-populated area."

The HALE-D is an unmanned solar-powered lighter-than-air vehicle designed to hover 12 miles above the earth's surface for extended periods of time. The airship is designed to demonstrate advanced new technologies and capabilities for keeping American soldiers safer through improved communications.

Lockheed Martin is in the process of recovering the airship and will conduct a full evaluation.

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT) contracted with Lockheed Martin to develop the High Altitude Airship program to improve the military's ability to communicate in remote areas such as those in Afghanistan, where mountainous terrain frequently interferes with communications signals.

The airship will serve as a stationery long-term overhead platform for a telecommunications relay system that will expand the range and reliability of battlefield communications.

The SMDC/ARSTRAT provides trained and ready missile defense forces and capabilities to the component commands and in support of the warfighter. It also focuses on researching, testing and integrating space, missile defense, high altitude, directed energy and other related technologies.

 

[ace009]

This is Indian University product ...

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVINDIA), India

But this is from 2006. Any idea what happened to them?

 

[Payeng]

Why, the Netra UAV looks almost identical to it, maybe nerta is a modified version of it.

 

[bengalraider]

New development from Israel!

The "Air Mule" Takes off

Urban Aeronautics Demonstrates the "Air Mule" to IDF High Command
Danny Shalom
4/8/2011
"Air Mule" (Photo: Urban Aeronautics)
The Urban Aeronautics Company is rounding out preparations for the coming demonstration of its UAV "Air Mule" before the IDF high command. "Air Mule" is designed to transport supplies to fighting forces and medevac troops from fire-saturated battlefields. This outstanding aerial vehicle is unmanned but capable of transporting humans.

Development began in 2007, and it its maiden flight was held in 2009. Since then "Air Mule" has performed several hovering flights, accumulating approximately forty flying hours. The next tests will have it flying at 60 to 100 knots without a ground-based connecting cable (as required until now by the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority). The Defense Ministry is financing half the outlay of "Air Mule"'s operational technologies. Next year Urban Aeronautics will look for a strategic partner, local or foreign, in order to complete the project and commence industrial production.

The systems are being developed in close cooperation with the air force's chief medical officer and ground forces command. If the IDF confirms its procurement, "Air Mule" is expected to be operational in 2015.

Although Urban Aeronautics' initial ideas for a UAV were civilian in nature (flights over congested urban transportation systems), after publication of plans to equip the US marines with UAVs capable of transporting humans, the company's directors decided to concentrate their efforts on the military arena.

Dr. Rafi Yoeli, company CEO and the guiding light behind the initiative, believes that this type of UAV will be able to fly to designated locations; navigate by means of a pre-fed computerized flight program and GPS systems; and land independently. Supplies will be unloaded at the landing site for troops waiting for the UAV. Wounded can be harnessed to special compartments on the sides of the vehicle and then "launched" to an evacuation point.

The "Air mule" is compact: six meters long and two meters wide. Its Turbomeca Ariel jet engine drives two internally enclosed propellers that vertically lift the vehicle and cargo. Employing more than 200 flaps, the UAV's flight path can be precisely controlled. Urban Aeronautics is developing a number of UAVs that operate on the principle of internally installed propellers. In addition to "Air Mule", other models include Centaur, designed to carry three to five passengers without a pilot, and X-Hawk, a two-engine model intended to transport five to eight passengers.

"We're now able to land and take off from any point", says Dr. Yoeli. "For the first time this lets us evacuate wounded from almost anywhere. Our UAV, carries a gross weight of close to 400 kilos". Besides civilian and military uses, Dr. Yoeli notes the wide range of other missions where UAVs will prove invaluable: flying above dangerous zones such as nuclear reactors and areas contaminated by chemical plant leaks.

Urban Aeronautics is in contact with the United States Army and the militaries of other nations, including India and Italy, for possible sale of the "Air Mule".

Israel Defense | The "Air Mule" Takes off

 

[bengalraider]

New Man-Portable guided UAV/munition being field tested in Afghanistan now


AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) : UAS Advanced Development Center: Switchblade Detail

 

[Parthy]

IAI to Unveil Rotary Mini UAV System


Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will present the Ghost, an innovative, small hovering unmanned platform at AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America , August 16-19, in Washington, DC.

Ghost weighs approximately 4 kg (9 lbs), and provides real-time intelligence to ground forces operating in urban areas. Ghost is equipped with an automatic vertical takeoff & landing system and can loiter for up to 30 minutes. The system was designed with twin rotary electrical engines so it can be silent and support day and night special operation missions.

The unique man-machine interface and operational concept is based on the principles of computer games and makes the system extremely intuitive to operate and requires little training. The entire system can be carried in backpacks by two soldiers and includes: two platforms, batteries, and a command and control unit with communications. Ghost is suitable for paramilitary and homeland security applications due to its simplicity and ease of operation.

Itzhak Nissan, IAI's President and CEO, said: "The innovative concepts used to develop Ghost highlight IAI's goal to do its utmost to support the ground forces. GHOST demonstrates IAI's leading technology and know-how gathered through years of experience in unmanned aerial systems."




Read more: IAI to Unveil Rotary Mini UAV System | Air Force News at DefenseTalk

 

[bhramos]

IAI - Ghost UAV

 

[bhramos]