India UAV Programs

[SavageKing456]

swift uav cfd analysis

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1445433082551562245

 

[Fuzuli NL]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1445433082551562245

The rest of the video would be nice.

 

[Nilgiri]

The rest of the video would be nice.

It was taken from a highlight video released by IAF.

Hopefully more footage comes with time.

Will keep my eyes peeled.

@crixus @Gautam @Gessler et al... if you see more lets post it here.

 

[crixus]

It was taken from a highlight video released by IAF.

Hopefully more footage comes with time.

Will keep my eyes peeled.

@crixus @Gautam @Gessler et al... if you see more lets post it here.

I shared complete video in IAF section , its just a part of annual video released by IAF

 

[Nilgiri]

I shared complete video in IAF section , its just a part of annual video released by IAF

Yeah I mean extended footage of these swarm drones in action etc.

IAF highlight reel was good though...but it was plate of lot of teasers basically.

 

[Gessler]

GODOFPARADOXES is teasing us with something...I can't say for sure what it is but seems like the SWiFT flying wing demonstrator. We did hear that it conducted taxiing trials a while back...

For comparison...

 

[Nilgiri]

Two UAV threads (conventional and stealth) merged to just one.

This is final decision on it since the activity didn't really pick up for the stealth one alone.

 

[Gessler]

Interesting updates from here:

HAL rechristens made-in-India Dornier 228 as Hindustan 228, starts work on hybrid electric flying machines - Times of India

India Business News: NEW DELHI: Hybrid electric flying machines, high payload drones, light utility helicopter (LUH) and high altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS) could soon .

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI

: HAL has started work on drones with payloads of over 8 kg. “We are looking at big drones, including those that can carry payloads of 200 and 2,000 kg. Work is on two categories — medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) and high altitude, long-endurance (HALE).

Both the 200kg and 2000kg categories are interesting. Assuming he's not talking about a jet-powered drone in the 200kg segment, it would be a direct rival to the Rustom-II/TAPAS UAV program being pursued by ADE (225kg payload). We know that the full-scale CATS Warrior jet-powered loyal wingman is supposed to have a ~600kg payload so we know this isn't that. So is HAL sensing that the MoD/Forces are disappointed with ADE's progress and hopes to cash in using the frankly far better aircraft development capabilities possessed by HAL?

Domestic competition is never bad - I'd love to see what HAL can come up with! Also, it'll be interesting to see if this will be a fully HAL-managed project or in collaboration with the Private-sector company NewSpace, which is the case with the CATS family of drones.

For the 2,000 kg payload drone, we have tied up with Israel’s Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd."

This is TRULY interesting. A 2-ton payload is very serious for a drone - that's in the league of Grumman X-47B.

I have to wonder if they're talking about the Ghatak/IUSAV flying-wing UCAV...but I dunno of any HAL involvement in that (at least at this point). The other possibility is something along the lines of MQ-9 Predator/Bayrakter Akinci...but must say, against competent adversaries with effective Air Defence systems, only a VLO drone can offer real offensive options. There's a reason the Indian Armed Forces aren't very interested in acquiring regular armed UCAVs, even importing.

I can't recall if the intended payload capacity of the Ghatak was ever revealed (@Nilgiri ?) but if its 2-ton, then boy...that flying wing will be something to see. But it'll take a while though, so far only the subscale SWiFT prototype has conducted taxi trials.

The Elbit ELOP tie-up obviously seems to be for Electro-optic equipment suite. If its for a VLO airframe, a customized package will have to be developed, therefore they're likely being brought on-board at an early stage.

And finally, HAL is also going to offer its high altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) for civil use like disaster management and geological surveys. “This is going to be a fully electric-powered, 120-metre-long pseudo satellite. It will reach its maximum altitude of 70,000 feet (well above commercial airlines flying zone) in a day, stay there geostationary, meaning not circumnavigate the earth but stay around an arc, for three months and then return to earth Its uses are going to be immense,” Madhavan said.

That's confirmation that it's performance spec will be very similar to Airbus Zephyr program.

@Gautam @Nilgiri

 

[Nilgiri]

I have to wonder if they're talking about the Ghatak/IUSAV flying-wing UCAV...but I dunno of any HAL involvement in that (at least at this point). The other possibility is something along the lines of MQ-9 Predator/Bayrakter Akinci...but must say, against competent adversaries with effective Air Defence systems, only a VLO drone can offer real offensive options. There's a reason the Indian Armed Forces aren't very interested in acquiring regular armed UCAVs, even importing.

It would make sense to make ghatak this big in the end if you ask me since swift etc are gonna be tech demonstrator of the design and concept etc....and scale that up as needed.

It also plugs a very deficient gap that IAF would otherwise have for 2 - 3 decades.....compared to more conventional uav where the options (even to import direct) are much more varied.

Let us see how the next few years shape up, we are at something of an inflection point right now.

 

[SavageKing456]

Tapas

 

[Agha Sher]

View attachment 34098
Tapas

What is the status of the Rustom I and Rustom II programme? Any news since the crash?

 

[SavageKing456]

What is the status of the Rustom I and Rustom II programme? Any news since the crash?

Rustom 1 has been upgraded version to archer UAV
Rustom 2 will be ordered by forces soon

This is archer uav

This is tapas

Also tapas has been integrated with two 180hp engines CVRDE is developing 220hp engines too and would soon be integrated

 

[SavageKing456]

Swift images
@Nilgiri

 

[SavageKing456]

Some more

 

[Gessler]

View attachment 34208 View attachment 34209
Some more

The airframe is sub-scale but the landing gear doesn't seem to be.

These tests are purely to validate the airframe shape & control surfaces so it probably doesn't matter.

 

[crixus]

The airframe is sub-scale but the landing gear doesn't seem to be.

These tests are purely to validate the airframe shape & control surfaces so it probably doesn't matter.

The other is the number of private players engaged in this project

 

[SavageKing456]

Video

 

[Gessler]

Video

Snaps:

Must say...they really nailed the airframe shape. All that investment into RCS test facilities is paying off.

 

[Lonewolf]

Video

Why pitot tube is there ?


Also I don't understand the requirement of adding sensors in current form if they don't see any possible application , don't u think so ?

Swift if able to be launched from aircraft carrier can be quite useful