Rustom 1 'Second' Flight

摘要

India's Rustom 1 unmanned air vehicle made its 'second' flight on May 14 from the Taneja Aerospace & Aviation Ltd (TAAL) facility in Hosur. Its developer, the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), incorporated a number of modifications into the design following its first official flight on October 15, 2010 (see Rustom Flies, January, p22). The Rustom 1 actually first flew on November 16, 2009, but was damaged in a crash. The 'second' flight was successful, ADE reports. It was seen as a precursor to a demonstration for the Indian military, during which paytoads will be carried and the type's datalink tested. Rustom 1 is intended to develop indigenous UAV technology as a lead in to further unmanned systems, including the Rustom H medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) project. It is also seen as a technology testbed for ADE's AURA unmanned combat air vehicle.