India Develops Long-Endurance, Low-Altitude UAV for Border Surveillance along LOC and LAC

[Chanakya's_Chant]

India Develops Long-Endurance, Low-Altitute UAV​

The P1 measures 2.82 metres and has a wingspan of 3.3m. It can stay up in the air for 10 hours straight. (Photo courtesy: IIT-Kanpur)​

Indian scientists have developed the country’s first low-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV, known as the P1, is expected to have a flying time of over 10 hours with a maximum altitude of 5,000 feet and an operating radius of 150 kilometers. Among other applications, the P1 will likely play an important role in helping the Indian military better monitor its land borders against Pakistani and Chinese intrusions. Apart from its military applications, the UAV will likely also be used for civilian applications including pollution monitoring and crowd control.

India Develops Long-Endurance, Low-Altitute UAV | The Diplomat

The aircraft, called P1, is commanded by a computer pilot on the ground. It can fly for more than 10 hours continuously at an altitude of up to 5,000 ft and has a wide operating radius of 150 km.

“We anticipate both civilian and military applications. The system could even carry environmental sensors like Chromium sensors on it and fly over river Ganges to measure the pollution levels,” co-principal investigator, Dr. Deepu Philip told HT.

The UAV had its first field trial on August 14 and can be used for highway patrolling, traffic and crowd monitoring (in case of riots) or crop and pollution surveillance. The armed forces are also keen to test the aircraft for its use.

The project started in January 2014 and was jointly funded by IIT Kanpur and Prabhu Goel foundation. “The entire system was designed using a systems engineering approach, to meet the desired specifications and target the need of Low Altitude Long Endurance (LALE). During the initial test flights at IIT Kanpur air strip, we were able to reach altitude of 1,000 feet,” Philip told HT.

IIT Kanpur and Aurora Integrated Systems of Bangalore collaborated in testing and manufacturing of the aircraft. The UAV is a product of synergy between start-up firms and academic institutions that promotes an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Eye in the sky: Army eyeing IIT-made UAV for border patrolling - Hindustan Times
India:- Army eyeing IIT-made UAV for border patrolling | sUAS News

 

[cirr]

India must devote itself to the quick development and deployment of weapons of all manners。

It is lagging behind its neighbours in many critical fields the master of which is essential to India's claim to “stardom” in the world political arena。

 

[cirr]

India should stop playing with kids toys and instead concentrate on life-sized drones even if it means tens of billions of USD from other urgently needed projects。

 

[The Great One]

India should stop playing with kids toys and instead concentrate on life-sized drones even if it means tens of billions of USD from other urgently needed projects。

Wow. So much concern for Indian drones. Maybe china can give us a couple of billions in soft loans. What do you say?

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

India must devote itself to the quick development and deployment of weapons of all manners。

It is lagging behind its neighbours in many critical fields the master of which is essential to India's claim to “stardom” in the world political arena。

India should stop playing with kids toys and instead concentrate on life-sized drones even if it means tens of billions of USD from other urgently needed projects。

What do you mean by kids toys? Every drone has it's own application - You won't use a "life-sized drone" for border surveillance when a much smaller one fits the purpose! Anyways we are developing the same - India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut based on the lines of the American RQ-1 Predator.

India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut

More info on Indian Drone/UAV projects - Indian UAV Programs | News & Discussions
5 home-grown MAVs ready for production. ADE-NAL combo to transfer ToT to HAL
​

 

[Guynextdoor2]

What do you mean by kids toys? Every drone has it's own application - You won't use a "life-sized drone" for border surveillance when a much smaller one fits the purpose! Anyways we are developing the same - India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut based on the lines of the American RQ-1 Predator.

View attachment 116011

India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut

More info on Indian Drone/UAV projects - Indian UAV Programs | News & Discussions
5 home-grown MAVs ready for production. ADE-NAL combo to transfer ToT to HAL
​

This is only surveillance. So Predator would be wrong description. BTW any updates? Have they done the test flight?

 

[jha]

Guess we will be inducting this by 2020..?

 

[axisofevil]

I hate the back wing of the Rustom. That should be redesigned.

 

[RKO]

plz dont tell me this gonna cost us <50lak

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

This is only surveillance. So Predator would be wrong description. BTW any updates? Have they done the test flight?

Rustom I was mean for surveillance only but not Rustom II. DRDO officially refers to it as an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) project being developed on the lines of the American Predator drones.

In October, 2010, A senior DRDO official stated,

"The American RQ-1 Predator is an obvious template for the Rustom program. We’ve built a credible unmanned flying platform. The way the Americans converted a robust surveillance drone into a combat drone is something we are confident we can replicate for the Rustom-H. It will have a great deal of mission flexibility. [..]
[Work] is underway to define the weaponization process."

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?topicName=unmanned&id=news/awst/2010/10/25/AW_10_25_2010_p30-263965.xml&headline=India Eyes Armed Rustom UAV&channel=&from=topicalreports

Rustom II MALE UAS had conducted low speed taxi trials and engine trials at Kolar, near Bangalore sometime in the September-December 2013 timeframe and was to make its debut flight in February this year but it is all set for a winter flight debut somewhere in November - December this year.

India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Rustom I was mean for surveillance only but not Rustom II. DRDO officially refers to it as an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) project being developed on the lines of the American Predator drones.

In October, 2010, A senior DRDO official stated,

"The American RQ-1 Predator is an obvious template for the Rustom program. We’ve built a credible unmanned flying platform. The way the Americans converted a robust surveillance drone into a combat drone is something we are confident we can replicate for the Rustom-H. It will have a great deal of mission flexibility. [..]
[Work] is underway to define the weaponization process."

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?topicName=unmanned&id=news/awst/2010/10/25/AW_10_25_2010_p30-263965.xml&headline=India Eyes Armed Rustom UAV&channel=&from=topicalreports

Rustom II MALE UAS had conducted low speed taxi trials and engine trials at Kolar, near Bangalore sometime in the September-December 2013 timeframe and was to make its debut flight in February this year but it is all set for a winter flight debut somewhere in November - December this year.

India's Predator Drone Rustom II MALE UAS All Set For Winter Flight Debut

Are you sure? The roustom has many series. I thought series 2 was still surveillance. UAS means Unmanned Aerial Survelliance right?

Plus take a look at the 'roles' doesn't mention combat capabiltiies.