LAKSHYA
LAKSHYA is a surface/ship launched high subsonic reusable aerial target system, which provides a realistic simulation of enemy aircraft threat to artillery crews for training in firing of air to air and surface to air weapons. Zero length launcher and parachute based recovery system allows LAKSHYA to be launched from land or ship and be recovered safely on land or sea. Ground control station and telemetry station allows pilotless control of aircraft and real time data acquisition. It is boosted from a simple zero length launcher by a solid propellant rocket motor, and sustained by a turbojet engine in flight. It carries two bodies with a tow length of 1.5 kms each: having radar, IR and visual signature augmentation. These tow bodies are used as targets for training land or ship based missiles or gun crews in weapon engagement. The LAKSHYA is recovered by a parachute system either over sea or land. Under a limited series production programme, ADE has delivered 3 LAKSHYA Air Vehicles Squadrons and 3 sets of grand equipments to Airforce, Navy and Army. Till now, more than 200 LAKSHYA launches have been carried out by ADE and the user services. LAKSHYA has been successfully deployed to evaluate indigenous and imported missile systems.
NISHANT-Battle Field Surveillance UAV
NISHANT is an all composite, low speed battle field Surveillance UAV conceived and designed with mobility as an important requirement. The UAV is launched using a Hydro Pneumatic Launcher and recovered with Aero Conical Parachute and impact attenuation system. The high degree of automation built into the system reduces piloting skill requirements to a minimum during critical phases of launch and recovery. Target Acquisition and tracking is done by electro optic payloads (CCTV & FLIR), mounted on a stabilized steerable platform. A sophisticated image processing system is used for analyzing the images obtained by the electro-optic image sensors. An onboard integrated digital flight management system is used for flight control and autonomous navigation of the UAV. NISHANT user trials have been successfully completed and the UAV is in production. Payloads like Low Light Level TV Camera, ELINT, COMINT, LD and LRF can also be fitted on this UAV platform.
The initial development efforts have helped DRDO to build up UAV related technology base in the areas of propulsion system integration, launch and recovery, flight control and navigation, communication, payload development and operation, ground control station, image processing and UAV simulation.
Precision Stabilized Electro-Optic (EO) Payload System
ADE has developed precision stabilized Electro-Optic (EO) Payload System development under the project titled ‘Reconnaissance and Surveillance System for Manned & Unmanned Aircraft’. The System comprises of a precision 2-axes-4-gimbal stabilized payload assembly (GPA Mk-IV), which houses two Electro-Optic Payloads to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance missions during day and night. The EO Payloads include a daylight TV camera with appropriate zoom optics for daytime operation and a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) System operating in 3-5 um MWIR region capable of imaging targets during day/night/adverse weather conditions. The main aim of the gimbal assembly is to direct/orient the EO payload line-of-sight (LOS) in any direction within the lower hemisphere irrespective of the flight direction of the air vehicle. Additionally, gimbal assembly stabilizes the payload LOS against aircraft jitter and vibrations. The stabilization accuracy of the Gimbal Payloads Assembly is better than 30uRad, which ensures detection of tank sized targets at a range in excess 17 km and recognition at range of 6 km.
RUSTOM UAV
DRDO has drawn up a road map for the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the three Services following a series of interactions with the armed forces. It has identified a long-term need for developing an indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV called RUSTOM-H. The MALE UAV is required to operate at medium to long ranges and gather near real time, high quality imagery (IMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) from areas of interest. ADE has taken up a technology initiative project – RUSTOM 1, to develop critical technologies for MALE UAV.
RUSTOM 1: Technology Initiative for MALE UAV
. Conventional Take off & Landing
• Service Ceiling : 25000 ft
• Endurance : 12 – 15 hrs
• Cruise Speed : 150 Km/hr
• Range : 250 Kms
• Payload : 75 Kg (Electro – Optics)
• Wing span : 7.9 m & Length : 5.1 m
• All up weight : 750 Kg
RUSTOM-H
RUSTOM-H is a medium altitude long endurance UAV with mission capability, proposed to be developed indigenously for the armed forces. The technical challenge lies in the design and development of light weight airframe and systems that operate reliably for long durations.
The range of advanced technologies and systems that will be developed include the following:-
• Aerodynamic configurations, High aspect ratio wing, Composite airframe integrated with propulsion system, De-icing system for wings
• Highly reliable systems with built-in redundancy for flight critical systems like flight control and navigation, data links, power management, - and mission critical payload management system
• Digital Flight Control and Navigation System, Automatic Take off and Landing (ATOL)
• Digital communication technologies for realizing data links to control and operate the mission and relay UAVs
. Payloads with high resolution and precision stabilized platforms.
Specifications:
• Conventional Take off and Landing
• Service Ceiling : 35000 ft
• Endurance : >24hrs
• Cruise Speed : 150 Km / hr
• Range : up to 250 Kms
• Payloads : 350 Kg (Electro – Optics, RWR, IFF, SAR, MPR, ELINT, COMMINT)
• Wing span : 20.6 m
• Length : 9.5 m
• All up weight : 1800 Kg
