Aerospace Diary

UV ONLINE http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/concerns-mount-over-indian-uav-developments/ 17th October 2014 - 10:53 by  Neelam Mathews  in Delhi Efforts to speed up development of the Rustom-2 MALE UAV appear to have stalled with neither confirmation on when production will begin nor delivery to the Indian Army, it has emerged. According to industry sources in India, the aircraft - which is designed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a wing of the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO)- is due to undergo high speed taxi trials in December. However, there has been no confirmation on when production and delivery of 76 systems for the Indian Army will start for which a Letter of Interest (LoI) has been released. Specifications in the LoI require the MALE to have an all-weather capability to operate between 25,000 to 36,000 ft, an endurance between 36 to 48 hours, and a cruising speed of at least 90 knots. L...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Nov 11, 2011 India’s indigenously designed unmanned aerial vehicle RUSTOM-1 weighing 661Kg, made its fifth flight  on Nov 11 morning flying at an altitude of 2300 ft AGL (above ground level) and at a speed 100 Knots during 25 minute of cruise near Hosur, says DRDO. The medium altitude long endurance UAV is developed by DRDO with Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Bangalore as the nodal laboratory. It made its maiden flight last year. PS Krishnan, Director, ADE said the flight was successful as all the modifications worked well including testing of the modified lift off scheme, modified altitude and speed hold logics. The Indian Army has shown interest in this program. Rustom can attain a maximum speed of 150 Knots, 22,000 ft of altitude and endurance of 12-15 hours with an operating range of 250 km when fully developed.