Intro : ADE
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{{Short description|Indian | {{Short description|Indian unmanned aerial vehicle}} | ||
{{Distinguish|DRDO Rustom}} | {{Distinguish|DRDO Rustom}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}} | {{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}} | ||
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin | {|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin | ||
| name = DRDO TAPAS BH-201 | | name = DRDO TAPAS BH-201 | ||
| image = | | image = File:TAPAS-BH-201.png | ||
| caption = | | caption =An artist's impression of TAPAS-BH-201 | ||
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | ||
| type = [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]] | | type = [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]] | ||
| national origin = [[India]] | | national origin = [[India]] | ||
| manufacturer = [[ | | manufacturer = [[Bharat Electronics]] <br/>[[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] | ||
| designer = [[Aeronautical Development Establishment | | designer = [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] | ||
| first flight = {{dts|format=dmy|2016-11-15}} | | first flight = {{dts|format=dmy|2016-11-15}} | ||
| introduction = | | introduction = | ||
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|} | |} | ||
'''Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201''' or '''TAPAS BH-201''' (''{{lit|Heat}}'' | '''Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201''' or '''TAPAS BH-201''' (''{{lit|Heat}}'') is a [[high-altitude long endurance]] [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] (UAV) which used to be previously referred as Rustom-II, being developed in India by [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]] (ADE) on the lines of [[General Atomics MQ-1 Predator]].<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> | ||
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
In October, 2010 a senior DRDO official had stated that the | In October, 2010 a senior DRDO official had stated that the General Atomics MQ-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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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 | 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 16,000 ft at Chitradurga, Karnataka. The prototype is expected to achieve a height of 26,000 ft and endurance of 18 hours by 2020 end. | ||
The advanced version of TAPAS BH-201 will include greater endurance of | The advanced version of TAPAS BH-201 will include greater endurance of 3,000 km and service ceiling of 50,000 ft, in addition to the weapons ability to deploy a wider variety of weapons, and payload of 3,000 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> | ||
On 16 December 2021, TAPAS-BH-201 successfully crossed 25,000 ft and 10 hours endurance milestone. DRDO is now planning to achieve 30,000 ft and 18 hours endurance by February 2022 after which the system will be handed over to [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL) and [[Bharat Electronics Limited]] (BEL) for mass production.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=2021-12-15|title=Rustom-2 indigenous UAV crosses a milestone|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rustom-2-indigenous-uav-crosses-a-milestone/article37963891.ece|access-date=2021-12-16|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> | |||
==Specifications== | ==Specifications== | ||