5th SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT OF RUSTOM – 1

Indigenously designed and developed RUSTOM-1 made 5th successful Flight this morning while flying at an altitude of 2300 ft AGL (above ground level) & at a speed 100 Knots during 25 minute of cruise near Hosur. It may be noted that this Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MALE - UAV) is developed by DRDO with Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) Bangalore as the nodal laboratory. It had its maiden flight in 2010. Mr. PS Krishnan, Director, ADE said that the flight was successful as all the modifications done worked well and all the parameters were achieved by the UAV which was weighing 661Kg and the total performance was good. In specific the objective of testing modified lift off scheme, modified altitude and speed hold logics worked excellently well.

Indian Army has shown keen interest in this programme. This UAV has the potential military missions like Reconnaissance & Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Target Designation, Communications Relay, Battle Damage Assessment and Signal Intelligence.

This UAV can attain a maximum speed of 150 Knots, 22,000 ft of altitude and endurance of 12-15 Hours with an operating range of 250 Kms when fully developed. 

Pentagon to Provide Shadow UAVs to Pakistan

The United States plans to provide Pakistan RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles to support their fight on extremists, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confirmed today during a round table session with Pakistani reporters.

The United States has been working with the Pakistani military for more than a year to enhance its own ISR capabilities, Gates said. "We share a lot of information that we acquire on the Afghan side of the border and from our satellites, but we also are trying to help the Pakistanis build their own capabilities."

In addition to the drones themselves, the United States also will provide training and other capabilities required to "coordinate these platforms and be able to get the maximum possible value out of them," Gates said.

The secretary first alluded to the new initiative last night, during an interview with Pakistani television reporters, but did not specifically mention the Shadow models, or the fact that a decision had been made about providing them, until today.

A senior defense official traveling with Gates told reporters the United States will provide 12 of the unarmed aircraft to help Pakistan in its offensive on extremists.

"We are trying to do everything we can to assist Pakistan in the fight in the west," Gates told reporters today.

Funding would come from congressionally appropriated counter-insurgency funds Gates said enable the Defense Department to quickly provide equipment or training to help the Pakistanis in the fight.

The United States has been working with the Pakistani military for more than a year to enhance its own ISR capabilities, Gates said. "We share a lot of information that we acquire on the Afghan side of the border and from our satellites, but we also are trying to help the Pakistanis build their own capabilities," he said.

Shadow UAVs are extremely popular within the U.S. Army, awareness in their operations.

The Shadows are relatively small, with a 14-foot wingspan, and have an ability to oversee specific sites and feed video images.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service