India’s Rustom-1 UAV Makes 5th Flight


The Indian RUSTOM-1 unmanned air system made its 5th successful flight this morning, flying for 25 minutes at 2300-ft AGL at a speed 100 Knots. The 661-kg RUSTOM-1 flew first in 2010. The UAS can attain a maximum speed of 150-knots, 22,000-feet and endurance of 12-15 hours with an operating range of 250 km when fully developed.

Photos / DRDO

21 thoughts on “India’s Rustom-1 UAV Makes 5th Flight”

  1. I have seen it over the skies of Electronic city in the month of either April or May flying low very low..and again in September.Managed to take a snap back then.

  2. WOW ! Great news. All the best to DRDO and Rustom project and wishing early induction.
    Expecting more details on the project.

  3. how many more years of testing rustom -h for another 4 years and rustom ucav for another 4 years may be nal it means we dont get a decent ucav until nend of this decade

  4. Hopefully next time they will let the media know only when it actually hits the speed range and endurance for which its requirements have been set.

  5. With a limited range of only 250KM, this can cot be used as a UCAV. The distance limit must have something to do with the range of remote/radio control. We need to have dedicated military satellites so that we can have a transponder that can be used specifically for this purpose. Otherwise all that HAL, ADA etc can produce is stuff that is limited in it's range. I wonder what the payload capacity of Rustom is going to be.

  6. @ Anon 8.11. Unlike a manned aircraft, the range of a UAV is not the max distance it can fly away from base aerodynamically. Its the max distance at which its electronics package is in range. I.e. Max distance at which it can be controlled.

  7. @Anonymous : 2:33 pm –

    Its not exactly a rip off. Its based on the Rutan Long Ez. In the 1980's NAL made a higher composite version of the Long Ez (which is a small manned plane).

    DRDO then converted this Long Ez to a UAV with full automated controls and automatic landing.

  8. is it a rip off?

    ofcourse it is!

    DRDO id famous for its "innovative" solutions for Indian requirements.

    Now some DRDO scientist will be declared "outstanding scientist" or "distinguished"

    also these people are sre to have paid Mr Burt Rutan – being honorable they do things honorably

    any ways hope the item atleast delivers the purpose it was touted for

  9. china xeroxed whole SU-30 aircraft!!!it doesn't matter whether cat is black or white as long as it catches mice!!! don't unnecessarily comment on DRDO!!!!

  10. All of those who are calling this a rip-off are basically Chutiyas(fools).

    These people have no idea how USA ripped off whole German rocket science and named everything after their own scientists. DRDO is a COW when compared to thugs like USA and China.

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