DRDO - NISHANT

 The DRDO Nishant is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by India's ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) a branch of DRDO for the Indian Armed Forces. The Nishant UAV is primarily tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory and also for reconnaissance, training, surveillance, target designation, artillery fire correction, damage assessment, ELINT and SIGINT. The UAV has an endurance of 4 h 30 min. Nishant has completed development phase and user trials. 

DRDO - NISHANT

 

 

The 380 kg (840 lb) Nishant UAV requires rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher and recovered by a Parachute System. Launches at a velocity of 45 m/s are carried out in 0.6 second with 100 kW power and subsequent launches can be carried out in intervals of 20 minutes. The Mobile Hydro-Pneumatic Launcher (MHPL) system mounted on a Tatra truck weighs 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) and boasts of a life cycle of 1000 launches before requiring overhaul. Nishant is one of the few UAVs in the world in its weight-class capable of being catapult-launched and recovered by using parachute, thus eliminating the need for a runway as in case of conventional take-off and landing with wheels.

On 3rd Feb 2011 Nishant UAV has successfully completed confirmatory trials conducted by the Indian Army at Pokhran ,Rajasthan.

 

Features

• Day/night capability training vehicle

• Battlefield reconnaissance & surveillance,

• Target tracking and localization

• Artillery fire correction

• All terrain mobility

• Target designation (using integral laser target designator)

• Endurance: 4 h 30 min

Ground support systems

• Mobile hydropneumatic launcher (MHPL)

• Ground control station (GCS)

• Antenna vehicle/Ground Data Terminal(GDT)

• Avionics preparation vehicle(APV)

• Mechanical maintenance vehicle

• UAV transportation vehicle

• Power supply vehicle

General characteristics

• Crew: None

• Payload: 45 kg

• Length: 4.63 m (15.2 ft)

• Wingspan: 6.57 m (21.6 ft)

• Empty weight: 380 kg (840 lb)

• Powerplant: 1 × RE-2-21-P or RE-4-37-P

Performance:

• Maximum speed: 185 km/h

• Cruise speed: 125 km/h to 150 km/h

• Range: 160 km (100 mi)

• Service ceiling: 3,600 m (up to 11,800 ft)

Launch & recovery

• Launch: Mobile hydropneumatic launcher (MHPL) system

• Recovery: Parachute + landing bags