DRDO Rustom

Not to be confused with Rostam.
For the 2016 film, see Rustom (film).
Rustom
ADE Rustom-1 UAV
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
National origin India
Design group Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO
First flight
  • Rustom-1: 11 November 2009
  • TAPAS-BH-201: 15 November 2016[1]
Status
  • Rustom-1 UAV (Prototype flight testing)
  • Rustom-H MALE UAV (Under development)
  • TAPAS-BH-201 (Rustom-2) MALE UAV (Prototype flight testing)[2][3]

The DRDO Rustom (lit: "Warrior") is a family of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the three services, Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, of the Indian Armed Forces.[4] Rustom is derived from the NAL's LCRA (Light Canard Research Aircraft) developed by a team under the leadership of late Professor Rustom Damania in the 1980s. The UAV will have structural changes and a new engine.[5]

The Rustom will replace/supplement the Heron UAVs in service with the Indian armed forces.[6]

  1. ^ "DRDO: DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time - Times of India". The Times of India. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  2. ^ "Tapas has no combat capabilities: DRDO". www.dailypioneer.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  3. ^ "First flight of UAV Rustom-2 scheduled in Feb, 2014". The Economic Times. Feb 22, 2012. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. ^ Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV Rustom Archived January 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Chapter 9 : NAL and Trainers:ACIG". Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  6. ^ "India joins select group to develop UCAV technology". The Hindu. 2007-08-27. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2008-09-02.