Rustom-H MALE UAV: Updates & Discussions

[farhan_9909]

RUSTOM-H will carry weapons

what the F***

this is a giant UAV like global hawk

never heard that india had such UAV and indegenous

 

[IND151]

nice uav!!

 

[DarK-LorD]

what the F***

this is a giant UAV like global hawk

never heard that india had such UAV and indegenous

Maximum speed: 225 km/h (139.81 mph)
Range: 350 km
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,668 m)
DRDO Rustom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This ain't Global Hawk Type.

 

[Abingdonboy]

India Now Wants Hundreds Of UAVs | AVIATION WEEK


India is increasing procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), a critical need in light of the insurgency it is fighting in the northeast, the ongoing threat of terrorism, tension along the Pakistan border, and its emerging role as a regional naval power and subsequent need for persistent maritime surveillance. The military wants to acquire at least 1,500 unmanned systems in the next 3-4 years, ranging from man-portable drones to high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) vehicles.

A request for proposals (RFP) is expected this month from the army for 530 systems, capable of flying at 14,000 ft. An air force RFP will be released simultaneously for 150 systems, with ceiling of 22,000 ft., endurance of 1.5 hr. and 4-5 kg (8.8-11 lb.) of payload.

International contractors in ventures with Indian companies are vying for the business, even as products and prototypes emerge from local suppliers and government organizations such as the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO).

Until now, India has mostly deployed medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drones. While the country lags in deployment of UAVs, it wants to develop an integrated program. “India is fortunate to have a large enough budget and full range of needs to do this,” says T.J. Master, a UAV consultant.

The military uses Israeli-built UAVs such as the Heron, Searcher Mk II and Harop from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The DRDO is developing a MALE drone called Rustom-H, funded with an initial allocation of $225 million. The Rustom-H is powered by an NPO-Saturn 36MT turbofan, has 12-15-hr. of endurance and carries payloads of 75 kg to 25,000 ft.

Despite the interest of private industry in India’s UAV procurement, there is concern that much of the business may go to government companies. Last year, after declaring its intent to involve the private sector in development of the Rustom-H, the project was awarded to government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd. “This was disappointing,” says an industry source. “If there is no assurance of an order and government companies are always preferred, why should private industry spend time and invest money [in UAVs]?”

The navy, meanwhile, commissioned its second UAV squadron this year—with IAI Herons and Searcher Mk IIs—in the coastal city of Porbandar, Gujarat, near Pakistan. Its first UAV reconnaissance squadron is based in Kochi. “The location is ideal for covering the sea lanes from the Arabian Sea, as well as providing surveillance cover to high-value assets on the western coast,” says the navy. A third squadron is coming up in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, in the south.

The navy is also looking at deploying unmanned rotorcraft from ships. IAI and HAL are working on converting the Chetak naval helicopter to a UAV with endurance of 6 hr., ceiling of 15,000 ft., speed of 186 kph (115 mph.) and 220-kg payload. Following delays, however, the navy last year issued a RFI for a vertical-takeoff-and-landing UAV. Northrop Grumman has made presentations here for its MQ-8B Fire Scout.

With insurgency an ongoing problem, interest has emerged in Northrop Grumman’s Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System (Astamids), which was demonstrated on Fire Scout. “The insurgents lay mines to be remotely triggered 4 in. below roads in the eastern states of India,” an army official says. “The algorithms to locate IEDs (improvised explosive devices) through processing Astamids imagery will prove a boon to the paramilitary forces coping with this problem.”

Honeywell Aerospace also carried out live demonstrations and trials of its T-Hawk micro air vehicle last year, claiming it detects IEDs planted 20 in. underground.

Boeing has had discussions about its catapult-launched ScanEagle for homeland security. “It can also be launched from a P-8 [maritime surveillance aircraft] or F/A-18E/F Super Hornet,” says Rick McCrary, director of international business development at Boeing. Scan-Eagle uses a pneumatic catapult and flies preprogrammed or operator-initiated missions guided by GPS and an onboard flight-control system. In India, ScanEagle could be of value in intelligence-gathering in border areas and over water.

No matter which UAVs are specified, challenges persist. Reliability will be an issue, as monsoon rains can be destructive. A doctrine for procurement by the air force and army is not clearly defined, creating confusion and duplication. There is also a lack of operational benchmarks and experience, and no testing range. Networking of UAVs, which requires secure digital links and interoperability, is also an issue.

^^^ this is impressive, never heard lf such a thing before. Do you think that IN will go for some Scan-eagles to complement its P-8is for launching from them? I though the FireScout was being seriously considered by IN?

 

[Kinetic]

Maximum speed: 225 km/h (139.81 mph)
Range: 350 km
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,668 m)
DRDO Rustom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This ain't Global Hawk Type.

Its has endurance of 35 hours against Global Hawk's 36 hours and will have SATCOM. The 350 km range is for line of sight coverage without SATCOM. So it is more like Global Hawk in terms of endurance.

 

[Kinetic]

Looks like a tactical UAV to me.

It has endurance of 15 hours.

 

[Avishek]

Drdo must speed up the development of the uav or it will be ready for induction by 2020

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Is this the same Rustom MALE UAV in this picture? Looks bigger here.


This UAV looks bigger in the video..

first flight

I thought it was smaller..

 

[MilSpec]

self del ####

 

[MilSpec]

what the F***

this is a giant UAV like global hawk

never heard that india had such UAV and indegenous

And now u know...congrats

 

[angeldemon_007]

what the F***

this is a giant UAV like global hawk

never heard that india had such UAV and indigenous

Man the latest reports suggests Rustom-H be turbofan just like Avenger (Predator C)...

 

[angeldemon_007]

A few months back it was turboprop and now turbofan...
I just hope it is right because then we will directly jump to the level of Predator C (Avenger) but i think this is a mistake in the article...

 

[just4akhilesh]

We have our own project too which is going at pretty decent pace with collabration NPO saturn ,till then NPO saturn 36MT is kinda gap filler mate if am not wrong ..
GTRE KAVERI MINI TURBINE

it is not GTRE KAVERI MINI TURBINE read name at side of engine

 

[jha]

Man the latest reports suggests Rustom-H be turbofan just like Avenger (Predator C)...

Yeah..Next is what from IAF ..? RUSTOM-H should be RAMJET powered..?

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
Don't get angry at me Jha....it was reported in an article of aviationweek a couple of days back....you haven't read that article ?/ I was also surprised because a few months back (during aero India) it was a turboprop but now reports are there it would be a turbofan....

Also in my opinion after working on Rustom 1 and Nirbhay cruise missile, i think our scientists can build a turbofan based MALE UAV...Lets hope they are successful in either one of them (turbofan or turboprop) in given time-frame...