India's Nishant UAV Crashlanded during a Test Flight

[sonicboom]

Nishant UAV Crashlanded during a Test Flight
Sunday, January 31, 2010

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Nishant, which was on a test flight, crashlanded in an agricultural land at Chikkatumutagiri in Bangarpet taluk on Friday following technical problem. The UAV was scheduled to land at Defence Research and Development and Development (DRDO) premises at Muduwadi Hosahalli in Kolar taluk. The vehicle was launched at 11 am and was scheduled to return at 4 pm after flying over Hosur in Tamil Nadu. However, it developed problems around 2.45 and crashlanded with a loud sound. Wings were damaged in the accident. No one was injured in the accident.

On hearing the thud, a teacher and students in a nearby school rushed out and saw the damaged vehicle. In Bangalore, a DRDO spokesperson denied that the UAV had crashlanded. However, he confirmed that the UAV was the advanced version of Nishant.

Spokesperson Jayaprakash maintained that the wings of the UAV were slightly damaged when the aircraft landed on an uneven ground. "The area where the UAV landed was earmarked for emergency landings and it landed using a parachute. The villagers assumed it was a crash," he claimed.He also said that there was no significant damage and that the aircraft was going to be used again.

http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/search/label/India

 

[RPK]

DRDO denies report of UAV crash


KOLAR/BANGALORE: A prototype of Nishant, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), reportedly crashed in a barren field near Chikka Tumutagere, Bangarpet taluk of Kolar district on Friday afternoon.


However, officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) have denied reports of the crash. Officials say that the UAV was descending with the help of its parachute and had kicked up a cloud of dust when it had landed on a dry patch of land.

In an other incident in November last year, a UAV had crashed near Hosur in Tamil Nadu during a test flight.

A DRDO official said: “The UAV was flying at an altitude of 1,000 ft when the engine was switched off. This is the normal procedure for landing a UAV as it has no wheels for taxing and landing.” The UAV which was fitted with latest cameras, had left the base around 11 pm and was scheduled to return around 4 pm after flying over Krishnagiri and Hosur.

The scientists, who were remote-controlling the UAV from DRDO’s Kolar centre, are said to have lost communication with the craft during its return journey. The UAV weighs around 250 kg and costs Rs 2.80 crore.

KGF Deputy Superintendent of Police Seshadri and other police officers have also visited the landing site. In a previous incident in November 2009, the UAV had crashed when it hit a coconut tree during a test flight near Hosur in Krishangiri district of Tamil Nadu.

 

[BATMAN]

^^Tale of unfortunate multiple coincidences.
Some times coconut tree found to be in the flight path and some times airstrip disappears.
DRDO need to sacrifice more scientists.

 

[DavyJones]

@BATMAN lol!
I think even Indians are realising that DRDO is not doing a good job. They seem to find new ways of eating up my tax money with nothing to show for it. Hopefully what they are gaining is useful experience.
I hope they really learn from their mistakes and put up a better show next time they have a chance to build/design tanks, aircraft etc.
IMHO - they need to start attracting better talent. Their salaries and work ethic is inferior to the pvt sector hence talent goes elsewhere.

 

[desimorty]

^^Tale of unfortunate multiple coincidences.
Some times coconut tree found to be in the flight path and some times airstrip disappears.
DRDO need to sacrifice more scientists.

The nishant UAV doesnt use airstrips to take off or land. Its meant to be used on the front lines or near with out the need for airstrips.
Its launched via a mobile rail gun and lands via parachute.

 

[BATMAN]

@BATMAN lol!
IMHO - they need to start attracting better talent. Their salaries and work ethic is inferior to the pvt sector hence talent goes elsewhere.

with talent......i hope you meant qualified! is drdo running short of engineers i.e. understaffed?
Why not private sector build UAV than?

 

[RPK]

http://www.brahmand.com/news/DRDO-completes-successful-test-flight-of-UAV-Nishant/3078/1/10.html

DRDO completes successful test flight of UAV Nishant

BANGALORE (PTI): Three days after on board malfunction lead to gentle landing of unmanned aerial vehicle Nishant, the Aeronautical Development Establishment has successfully flown the UAV, the DRDO has said.

"All systems worked normally in its 30th flight and the mission was totally successful," the Defence Research and Development Organisation said in a statement here.

The 30th flight was conducted at ADE, a DRDO lab headquartered here, on February 1st between 11.25 am and 3 pm.

The aircraft took off from the launcher located at Kolar airfield and it was recovered after three hours, 35 minutes at the designated point, the DRDO said.

Nishant-15 was the same aircraft flown on January 29 from the same location. It flew through the designated way point till 3 pm as per plan and was returning towards recovery area near launcher when an on board malfunction occurred while overflying a path five km from Bangarpet. It had led to the recovery parachute coming out and the vehicle landed gently on the ground as per design.

Further, to absorb the shock of recovery, the landing bag in the vehicle got deployed and the vehicle was recovered fully intact except for a very minor damage, the DRDO said, denying that the Nishant had crash-landed on January 29

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

ASIAN DEFENCE: Nishant UAV Crashlanded during a Test Flight contains a pic of crashed UAV

 

[RPK]

^^^
The nishant UAV doesnt use airstrips to take off or land. Its meant to be used on the front lines or near with out the need for airstrips.
Its launched via a mobile rail gun and lands via parachute.

Take off



Landing

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Thanks we know it needs strip to fly.I was just presenting the proof where indian member said that Drdo denied uav crash.
Also is it still in testing or have u inducted them i mean inaguarated mass production ?

 

[RPK]

Thanks we know it needs strip to fly.

not required, it is All terrain mobility


The 380 kg Nishant UAV requires rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher. thus eliminating the need for a runway as in case of conventional take-off and landing with wheels.

I was just presenting the proof where indian member said that Drdo denied uav crash.

It is not, see the comment from DRDO

However, officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) have denied reports of the crash. Officials say that the UAV was descending with the help of its parachute and had kicked up a cloud of dust when it had landed on a dry patch of land.

Also is it still in testing or have u inducted them i mean inaguarated mass production ?

It has completed its user trials with the Indian Army, is expected to be handed over to the army shortly.

DRDO testing new version of Nishant.