Next week, India’s first domestic advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for strategic reconnaissance and surveillance will make its public debut, while another home-grown weaponized drone is scheduled to fly for the first time in June-July. The Tapas-BH (tactical aerial platform for advanced surveillance-beyond-horizon) drone, created by DRDO, will live-stream the aerial and static displays of various aircraft during the Aero-India event in Bengaluru.
“Tapas-BH will exhibit its capabilities, which includes operating at heights up to 28,000-feet with an endurance of over 18 hours. “The medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) is DRDO’s solution for the Army, IAF, and Navy’s ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) requirements,” a defence ministry official said on Thursday.
According to insiders, the armed drone known as Archer-NG (next generation), which can carry 300 kg of weaponry such as smart anti-airfield weapons (SAAWs) and anti-tank guided missiles, will be flight-tested for the first time in June-July.
The Tapas-BH drone, formerly known as the Rustom-2, has a top speed of 225 kmph, a wing span of 20.6 metres, and a “command range” of 1,000 kilometres through satellite connection. “The UAV, also capable of night-flying, is currently getting ready for formal user-trial evaluation by the armed forces.
It would thereafter be mass-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), Bharat Electronics (BEL), and others,” a source added.
Recent conflicts, ranging from Armenia-Azerbaijan to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, have highlighted the operational utility of drones and AI-enabled drone swarms. India, on the other hand, has fallen significantly behind others in producing modern UAVs, resorting to purchasing large numbers of Heron and Searcher-II drones from Israel over the years. The Navy also has two unarmed MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones on loan from General Atomics in the United States.
Advanced indigenous drones will be far less expensive. The Tapas-BH, which is currently powered by a foreign engine, costs roughly Rs 40-45 crore when equipped with all mission sensors.
“The indigenous UAV engine is also now ready and in advanced stages of evaluation,” according to the source. “Most importantly, an indigenous sophisticated ground control station can control six to seven home-grown UAVs.
“The design of the Archer-NG, which has several extra hard-points for weapon carriage, is heavily influenced by the Tapas-BH,” he noted.
In addition, China has supplied Pakistan with armed Cai Hong-4 and Wing Loong-II drones. India has a long-standing plan to purchase armed MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States. However, the proposed deal’s hefty cost of $3 billion (Rs 24,000 crore) for 30 drones has prompted a reconsideration of decreasing the total number to 18.
The Tapas-BH (tactical aerial platform for advanced surveillance-beyond-horizon) drone, created by DRDO, will live-stream the aerial and static displays of various aircraft during the Aero-India event in Bengaluru.
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