Bad news : IAI pulls plug on unmanned helicopter conversions

[angeldemon_007]

Israel Aerospace Industries will not invest additional money in converting manned helicopters into unmanned platforms, a senior source says.
While the company's efforts to date had looked like a "reasonable" investment, tests made with some platforms have highlighted the shortcomings of such products.
"The main problem is the short endurance of such a platform. An unmanned rotorcraft should be designed as such from scratch to make it very efficient for the missions," the source says.
In recent years, IAI has been involved in an effort to assist India's Hindustan Aeronautics in using an existing helicopter for unmanned operations. However, the work was not fully budgeted by India, and IAI ceased its active involvement due to the lack of a customer.
While it intends to step back from such work on adapting manned platforms, IAI has recently revealed some details about its efforts in the small unmanned rotorcraft sector. One example is its developmental "Ghost" reconnaissance design, which has a maximum take-off weight of 4kg (8.8lb), a top speed of 35kt (65km/h) and an endurance of 25min.

IAI pulls plug on unmanned helicopter conversions

 

[KEETARP]

Firescout sale and US pressure perhaps

 

[Abingdonboy]

Does this apply to just the Chetaks based UAV or the Dhruv based UAV swell as the news about Dhruv being converted to UAV wad fairly recent.

It's a shame but I see where there coming from, systems like this should be designed from the ground up to maximise efficiency and rang not just to recycle old air-frames.

Hopefully IAF/IN goes for the Firescout, as I believe they've already sent out RFIs (I suppose they saw this coming) and have been besides on the fire scout by LM. don't be surprised if this is announced soon.

Watch this space.

 

[misterme2]

It about time....it was good research but those Chetaks are older than Advani......we have to use sleek, newer platforms to get the best usage. India is capable of designing a Firescout look a like...so why not go ahead and R&D...

 

[Tshering22]

Why is this bad news? This would force our lazy codgers to move their backsides a little more. In fact, this is a welcome.

 

[Dash]

Firescout sale and US pressure perhaps

I dont think this is such an important requirement. we are not even considering buying firescout, but US wants us.....we dont need this so soon...
US knows this fact, they wont pressurize Israel.....it hasnt come there yet.

 

[Skull and Bones]

India should go alone in this project, i don't see this would be too tough considering the experience gained in Rustom uav project
So this could be blessing in disguise.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I dont think this is such an important requirement. we are not even considering buying firescout, but US wants us.....we dont need this so soon...
US knows this fact, they wont pressurize Israel.....it hasnt come there yet.

Actually the IN has already floated a tender for rotary UAVs and have been fully besides on the fire scout so it is more than likely a possibility.
And not IN has the $$$ US is more then willing, win-win. The fire scout is a formidable machine.

 

[angeldemon_007]

I dont think this is such an important requirement.

Actually including these uav in service will definitely help. The number was sufficiently big and hence IN decided to wait and go for indigenous and thats was induction was delayed. Otherwise RFI were issued in 2009. Also US has already cleared sale for this UAV through FMS.

India should go alone in this project, i don't see this would be too tough considering the experience gained in Rustom uav project
So this could be blessing in disguise.

Yeah they should go for this but its true we should not try to modify chetak or dhruv. Also those were to big platform for that kind of UAV. I really hope they develop a new platform by giving order to HAL. HAL can easily build something for this project.

Does this apply to just the Chetaks based UAV or the Dhruv based UAV swell as the news about Dhruv being converted to UAV wad fairly recent.

I think so, because it has to do with money.

Actually the IN has already floated a tender for rotary UAVs and have been fully besides on the fire scout so it is more than likely a possibility.

You they reccently issued tender for small size rotoary uav also like netra and number is somewhat same like the one IN needs for fire scout category uav.