Israel, India to advance work on unmanned Chetak

[1nd1a]

Progress has been made toward a defined programme to develop an unmanned version of the Chetak helicopter for the Indian navy.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) have been performing preliminary work on a prototype of an unmanned helicopter for the Indian navy, based on the locally-made Chetak.

This uses a flight control system developed by IAI using a Bell Helicopter 206.

The Malat unmanned air systems (UAS) division of IAI is working with HAL under a wider cooperation agreement, and a series of flight tests is scheduled to begin after a contract is signed.

The Israeli navy also has an interest in an unmanned helicopter for its missile boats. It currently uses manned helicopters, but their operations are complicated in rough sea conditions.

In the late 1980s, IAI used a Gyrodyne QH-50 as the basis for the Hellstar hovering UAS.

The programme was terminated after the first prototype was damaged in a hard landing.

The operational requirements of the Israeli and other navies have prompted the company to resume its work on a vertical take-off and landing UAS.

It is working on a dedicated unmanned rotorcraft, and also on a kit that will allow for the "plug and fly" conversion of any helicopter.

Israel, India to advance work on unmanned Chetak

 

[angeldemon_007]

What the f--k ? I thought IAI has already built this one and India was going for Dhruv version. This is all bullshit...I mean even if they will start now, what the hell were they doing for so many years. IN is not purchasing because of this project or else they would have purchased US UAVs in 2009 itself and these idiots are still talking and thinking ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

I thought this project had been cancelled a while back due to the complicated process of converting the Chetak into a UAV that left very little room for payload? And yes there was reports about turning the Dhruv into a more capable version. Event still why is this article saying the work will start now? The Chetak JAV was supposed to have its first flight last year (beforeit was "cancelled") it seems to me this is an old article.

 

[Kinetic]

I thought IAI already readied the prototype!!