The Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully carried out the flight test of its Rustom 2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.
Also known as TAPAS-BH-201, the Rustom 2 drone is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) autonomous aerial vehicle with 24-hour endurance, reported the Press Trust of India.
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The UAV can be deployed to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions for the Armed Forces of India. It conducted its maiden flight in November 2016.
In a statement, the DRDO said that the test is claimed to be significant as it is the UAV’s first flight with a higher power engine in a user configuration. DRDO added that all parameters were ‘normal’.
With Hindustan Aeronautics and Bharat Electronics as the production partners, the Rustom 2 UAV has been designed and developed by the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).
According to the DRDO officials, the remote vehicle can carry synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems, and situational awareness payloads.
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By GlobalDataRustom-II MALE UAV belongs to the Rustom series of UAVs, which includes Rustom-I, Rustom-H and Rustom-C. It was intended for use by the Indian Armed Forces.
The first trial of the Rustom-I UAV was conducted on 16 November 2009 at the Taneja Aerospace Air Field near Hosur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
