DRDO’s unmanned combat drone takes flight

After much wait, India’s long endurance Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV): Rustom-2 finally completed its first flight at Challakere which is about 200km from Bengaluru.

The UCAV comes under the medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) category of vehicles and it is said that it “mall the expectations” in its flight.

The drone was first scheduled to fly in late 2013 but it got delayed by around three years as there were some development delays. The developer, however, claims that Rustom-2 will be a whole new generation of unmanned drones. It has a wingspan of more than 20m and an endurance of 24-30 hours.

Equipped with contemporary technology, it 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.

"Besides, 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 told TOI.

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.
(image: IndiaTimes)