TAPAS-BH-201

2021-08-26T03:12:21Z

2402:3A80:196F:FF22:878:5634:1232:5476: /* Specifications */Fixed typo

{{Short description|Indian UAV}}
{{Distinguish|DRDO Rustom}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name = DRDO TAPAS BH-201
| image = Rustom-2 Model.jpg
| caption = ADE Rustom-2 model on display
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
| type = [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]
| national origin = [[India]]
| manufacturer = [[Defence Research and Development Organisation|Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]]
| designer = [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] of [[Defence Research and Development Organisation|DRDO]]
| first flight = {{dts|format=dmy|2016-11-15}}
| introduction =
| retired =
| status = Prototype flight testing
| primary user =
| produced =
| number built =
| program cost =
| unit cost =
| developed from = [[DRDO Rustom|DRDO Rustom-H]]
| variants with their own articles =
}}
|}

'''Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201''' or '''TAPAS BH-201''' (''{{lit|Heat}}'') (also known as Rustom 2) is a [[high-altitude long endurance]] [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] (UAV) which used to be previously referred as Rustom-II, being developed by India on the lines of the American Predator drones.<ref name="ETrustom">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-22/news/31086842_1_ade-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicles-drones|title=First flight of UAV Rustom-2 scheduled in Feb, 2014|date=22 Feb 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="spsau10">{{cite web|url=http://www.spsaviation.net/exclusive/?id=164&h=Unmanned:-The-Future-of-Air-Wars|title=Unmanned: The Future of Air Wars|publisher=SP's Aviation|accessdate=10 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605165251/http://www.spsaviation.net/exclusive/?id=164&h=Unmanned%3A-The-Future-of-Air-Wars|archivedate=5 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="RN20111115">{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-india-to-soon-have-its-won-predator-drones/20111115.htm|title=India may soon have its own 'Predator drones'|date=15 November 2011|newspaper=Rediff News|accessdate=9 March 2012}}</ref> First flight of the UAV took place in November 2016 after a 3-year delay.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/DRDOs-combat-drone-Rustom-2-flies-for-the-first-time/articleshow/55450539.cms|title=DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref> It was revealed at that time that the UAV has been renamed from Rustom-II to TAPAS-BH-201,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/582217/tapas8200only-surveillance-may-morphed-combat.html|title=TAPAS only for surveillance, may be morphed for combat duty: DRDO chief|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref> an acronym for Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201. The basic TAPAS BH-201 is classified as a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV)

==Design==

In October, 2010 a senior DRDO official had stated that the American RQ-1 Predator is an obvious template for the Rustom program. DRDO 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.

In February 2012, ADE Director P S Krishnan stated that designing of ''Rustom-II'' has been completed, purchase orders have been placed and we are on schedule to fly for the first time in February 2014.<ref name=DN549>{{cite news|title=ADE Finalizes Rustom-2 UAV Flight, Reveals Future Drone Projects for Defence|url=http://www.defencenow.com/news/549/ade-finalizes-rustom-2-uav-flight-reveals-future-drone-projects-for-defence.html|accessdate=9 March 2012|newspaper=Defence Now|date=February 25, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620184142/http://www.defencenow.com/news/549/ade-finalizes-rustom-2-uav-flight-reveals-future-drone-projects-for-defence.html|archivedate=20 June 2012}}</ref> In contrast to Rustom-I, the next generation version is equipped with enhanced aerodynamic configuration, digital flight control, navigation system, [[communication intelligence]], medium and long-range electro-optic payloads and [[synthetic aperture radar]] that will enable it to see through the clouds. Rustom-2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads depending on the mission objectives including electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness systems. It has a satellite communication link to relay situation in the battle theatre on real time basis.

==Development==

In September 2013, the Rustom-II began full power taxi trials at the Kolar airfield near Bengaluru. Powered by twin NPO-Saturn 36MT turboprop engines, the Rustom-II is being developed as a long endurance surveillance platform capable of deploying precision weapons in future. It would carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for all the three armed forces in India. Once inducted, this indigenous medium altitude long endurance (MALE) multirole drone is likely to be an asset for Indian armed forces for its surveillance capability as well as for its use as an unmanned armed combat vehicle.

TAPAS-BH-201 had a successful maiden flight on 16 November 2016 at Challakere, 200 km away from Bengaluru in the district of Chitradurga in south Indian state of Karnataka. It was tested for take off, landing and other parameters. Ten pilotless UAV's would be produced in one year. Nine prototypes more advanced than the initial one would follow for testing prior to the beginning of certification process.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/DRDOs-combat-drone-Rustom-2-flies-for-the-first-time/articleshow/55450539.cms|title=DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref>

Powered by twin NPO-Saturn 36MT turboprop engines, the Rustom-II is being developed as a long endurance surveillance platform capable of deploying precision weapons. With a wingspan of more than 20m and an endurance of 24–30 hours, the UCAV needs a runway to takeoff and land unlike traditional UAVs, which makes it more trustworthy.

The drone can loiter autonomously at high altitudes performing real-time, high-resolution intelligence, [[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance|surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)]] with its [[Synthetic aperture radar|SAR]] and [[Electro-optical sensor|EO]] sensors. When a target is identified, it will either illuminate the target with a [[laser designator]] for other [[Attack aircraft|strike aircraft]], or descend to lower altitude and attack the target with its own [[Air-to-surface missile|air-to-surface missiles.]]

The capability of automatic takeoff and landing makes it comparable to some of the best in the world. The team developing the Rustom-II has faced weight reduction and systems issues, resulting in delay in its debut flight by over two years. It will now undergo through a rigorous phase of flight trials.

On October 2020, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) flight tested the Rustom-2 medium altitude long endurance indigenous prototype drone and achieved eight hours of flying at an altitude of 16000 feet at Chitradurga, Karnataka. The prototype is expected to achieve a height of 26000 feet and endurance of 18 hours by 2020 end.

The advanced version of TAPAS BH-201 will include greater endurance of 3000 km and service ceiling of 50000 ft, in addition to the weapons ability to deploy a wider variety of weapons, and payload of 3000 kg . [[Indian Army|The Indian Army]], [[Indian Air Force|IAF]], [[Indian Navy|Navy]] and [[Indian Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] have all expressed strong interest in the Rustom-II, though firm orders will clearly only land during advanced flight testing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=39272|title=Rustom-2 similar to the US Predator, will be able to deliver precision bombs deep inside Pak And China|url-status=dead|access-date=2016-11-18}}</ref>

==Specifications==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''Defstrat.com'',<ref name=DEFSTRAT/> and ''stargazer2006.online.fr''<ref name=Stargazer>{{cite news|title=DRDO-ADE 'Rustom-I' and 'Rustom-H'|url=http://stargazer2006.online.fr/derivatives/rustom.htm|access-date=9 March 2012|newspaper=Stargazer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730134046/http://stargazer2006.online.fr/derivatives/rustom.htm|archive-date=30 July 2012}}</ref>
|prime units?=met

|capacity= {{cvt|350|kg|0}} payload
|length m=9.5<ref name=DEFSTRAT>{{cite news|title=Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Made in India |url=http://www.defstrat.com/exec/frmArticleDetails.aspx?DID=234 |access-date=9 March 2012 |newspaper=South Asia Defence Strategic Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514023950/http://www.defstrat.com/exec/frmArticleDetails.aspx?DID=234 |archive-date=14 May 2012 }}</ref>
|length note=
|span m=20.6
|span note=
|height m=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=1800
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=

|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[NPO Saturn|NPO-Saturn]] 36MT engines<ref name=AWUAV>{{cite news |title=India Now Wants Hundreds Of UAVs |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/dti/2011/05/01/DT_05_01_2011_p19-313799.xml |access-date=9 March 2012 |newspaper=Aviation Week |date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>
|eng1 type=wing-mounted turboprop
|eng1 kw=73.55
|eng1 note= (Prototype)
|eng2 number=2
|eng2 name=[[CVRDE]] indigenous
|eng2 type=
|eng2 hp=180
|eng2 note= (Production)
|eng2 kn=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=constant-speed propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=

|max speed kmh=225
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=125 - 175
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=1000
|ferry range note=
|endurance=30 hours <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/drdo-s-rustom-2-drone-flight-tested-india-goes-for-armed-heron-uavs/story-CZ5jd9tRo6Ph2jcq2HOpmM.html|title=DRDO’s Rustom-2 drone takes-off, India goes for armed Heron}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jha|first1=Manish Kumar|title=DRDO’s Light Tank Will Be Power Pack As “The Highest Altitude Operable Tank In The Globe”: G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO|url=https://www.businessworld.in/article/DRDO-s-Light-Tank-Will-Be-Power-Pack-As-The-Highest-Altitude-Operable-Tank-In-The-Globe-G-Satheesh-Reddy-Chairman-DRDO/09-03-2021-383371/|access-date=11 March 2021|publisher=BW BusinessWorld|date=11 March 2021}}</ref>
|ceiling m=8229.6
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|avionics=

}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|see also=
* [[Unmanned Air Vehicle]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[DRDO Rustom]]
* [[MQ-1 Predator]]
* [[IAI Heron]]
|lists=
* [[List of unmanned aerial vehicles]]


}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:TAPAS}}
[[Category:Unmanned military aircraft of India]]
[[Category:Proposed vehicles]]

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TAPAS-BH-201