India’s Rustom-II UAS Completes First Successful Flight
India’s TAPAS 201, commonly known as the Rustom-II UAS, has successfully completed its first flight.
The flight was conducted at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range, and was orchestrated by the country’s Defence Research and Development Organisation. Members of the country’s armed forces operated the vehicle during the flight.
A medium-altitude, long-endurance aircraft, the Rustom-II’s primary goal is to provide the country’s armed forces with surveillance and reconnaissance with its 24-hour flight endurance.
To achieve this, the two-ton UAS carries several combinations of payloads, including medium-range electro-optic sensors, electronic intelligence and situational awareness payloads, to accomplish both day and nighttime missions.
The Rustom-II is set to undergo more tests beginning user validation trials.
