ashok321
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2010
- Messages
- 17,942
- Reaction score
- 4
- Country
- Location
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-Rustom-2-for-flight/articleshow/55421027.cms
BENGALURU: At a time when Indian armed forces are increasingly looking outside the country for drones, Israel being a top destination, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) a defence research and development lab marred by delays and faults is readying Rustom-II, a long endurance unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) for its first flight.
The first flight of the UCAV, which is in the medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) category of vehicles, was first scheduled in late 2013. A three-year delay to conduct the first flight only adds to the time line, which is punctuated by other delays during development.
ADE Director MVKV Prasad, along with other top officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) visited their facility in Challakere, about 200-km from Bengaluru on Monday, where the first flight will happen.
More than two sources in the ADE said that the director was there to oversee the ongoing preparations for the maiden flight of Rustom-II, bagging orders for which is a priority for ADE, as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) already has contracts signed with Israeli companies and talks on procuring some combat drones from the US are ongoing.
"The entire team is working on it with full force, the first flight is likely soon, but I cannot comment on the date at this juncture," Prasad told TOI, confirming the developments.
However, even if the first flight, which is likely to happen in the coming week or the next is successful, Rustom-II will need at least another year before it gets the required certification. Still not confident about the project, the ADE has remained tight-lipped about the project with no official comments offered on it.
Former ADE director P Srikumar had told TOI earlier that the Rustom-II will be an aircraft unlike any other UAV in the ranks of our forces. It has a wingspan of more than 20m and an endurance of 24-30 hours.
He had said that the UCAV, equipped with contemporary technology, will need a runway to takeoff and land unlike traditional UAVs, which makes it more trustworthy. Compared to Rustom-I, the advanced version will have enhanced aerodynamic configuration, digital flight control and navigation system.
"It will also have automatic takeoff and landing capabilities, this version of Rustom is comparable to some of the best in the world," sources in ADE said. While the ADE hopes to bag orders from all the three wings of the armed forces—army, navy and the air force—its ability to stick to deadlines and also give a good quality platform will be key.
http://www.sofspace.com/uav/rustom-2-indias-first-armed-uav-top-5-facts/
IN THE FUTURE, RUSTOM 2 WILL FEATURE INDIGENOUS ENGINES IN THE 165-210 HP CLASS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED BY DRDO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TECH MAHINDRA
BENGALURU: At a time when Indian armed forces are increasingly looking outside the country for drones, Israel being a top destination, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) a defence research and development lab marred by delays and faults is readying Rustom-II, a long endurance unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) for its first flight.
The first flight of the UCAV, which is in the medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) category of vehicles, was first scheduled in late 2013. A three-year delay to conduct the first flight only adds to the time line, which is punctuated by other delays during development.
ADE Director MVKV Prasad, along with other top officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) visited their facility in Challakere, about 200-km from Bengaluru on Monday, where the first flight will happen.
More than two sources in the ADE said that the director was there to oversee the ongoing preparations for the maiden flight of Rustom-II, bagging orders for which is a priority for ADE, as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) already has contracts signed with Israeli companies and talks on procuring some combat drones from the US are ongoing.
"The entire team is working on it with full force, the first flight is likely soon, but I cannot comment on the date at this juncture," Prasad told TOI, confirming the developments.
However, even if the first flight, which is likely to happen in the coming week or the next is successful, Rustom-II will need at least another year before it gets the required certification. Still not confident about the project, the ADE has remained tight-lipped about the project with no official comments offered on it.
Former ADE director P Srikumar had told TOI earlier that the Rustom-II will be an aircraft unlike any other UAV in the ranks of our forces. It has a wingspan of more than 20m and an endurance of 24-30 hours.
He had said that the UCAV, equipped with contemporary technology, will need a runway to takeoff and land unlike traditional UAVs, which makes it more trustworthy. Compared to Rustom-I, the advanced version will have enhanced aerodynamic configuration, digital flight control and navigation system.
"It will also have automatic takeoff and landing capabilities, this version of Rustom is comparable to some of the best in the world," sources in ADE said. While the ADE hopes to bag orders from all the three wings of the armed forces—army, navy and the air force—its ability to stick to deadlines and also give a good quality platform will be key.
http://www.sofspace.com/uav/rustom-2-indias-first-armed-uav-top-5-facts/
IN THE FUTURE, RUSTOM 2 WILL FEATURE INDIGENOUS ENGINES IN THE 165-210 HP CLASS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED BY DRDO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TECH MAHINDRA
Last edited:
