HAL RUAV:- India’s First Unmanned Rotary-Wing Aerial Vehicle

Indian aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unveiled a full-scale prototype of a locally designed rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Aero India 2019 defence exhibition being held in Bangalore on 20-24 February.

Specifically designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, the UAV was developed by HAL in co-operation with the country’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, to meet specific requirements of the Indian Army and Indian Navy.

The 200 kg UAV, which is equipped with a twin-blade main rotor and a locally developed petrol engine, is stated to have a range of 200 km, endurance of six hours, and a service ceiling of 6,000 m. The platform, the fuselage of which is 4.2 m long and 1.28 m wide, is reportedly capable of flying at a top speed of 200 km/h and can carry a 40 kg payload.

To achieve self reliance in the aviation field and to enhance its R&D efforts, HAL is working closely with premier educational institutes and has established chairs at IITs in Madras, Roorkee, Kharagpur, Bombay and Kanpur and IISc Bengaluru.

Advance Light Helicopter in its different variants (ALH-Dhruv, ALH-Rudra, ALH Wheeled version) is one of its star products and in service with the Indian defence forces.The Light Combat Helicopter is also designed and developed by this centre and is under production for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

The preliminary design of the platform was completed in January, with clearance for the preliminary design review (PDR) now pending.

The UAV, which features a full‐authority digital engine control (FADEC) and SLR-DC datalink, can fly in fully autonomous mode, including auto take-off and landing with a return-to-home recovery option, according to HAL. It uses GPS for interactive command and control with completely programmable mission management computers. Real-time data and video links are available for line-of-sight operations.

Indian navy has an interest in small unmanned aircraft that can be deployed from its fleet.The UAV can be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, coastal surveillance, radar and missile decoy operations, detecting improvised explosive devices and landmines, and tracking and designating targets.

IAI-HAL NRUAV

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(hAL) and Malat(a unit of Israel Aerospace Industries) had started co development of NruAV. the IAI-hALNruAV project consisted of a Malatmade Helicopter Modification Suite (HeMoS) fitted on HAL’s Chetan, an upgraded Chetak with turbomeca tM 333 2M2 engines. the helicopter is planned to be used for unmanned operations and advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (Isr) missions from warship decks.

The system got delayed due to many problems like the lack of a correct landing and take-off system for moving platforms as the NruAV was to feature with automatic vertical take-off and Landing (AVtoL) from aviation-capable ships and from unprepared landing sites. It was reported in february 2017 that hAL has cancelled it contract with Israel and taken India’s Aeronautical Development establishment (ADe) on board to carry on with the project. other details are not known.

What is its requirements and how it can boost the Army and airforce capabilities?

As it is unmanned there will be no cost of lifes in its operational mode . As u know, a surveillance copter costs much more as compared to it , so it will be very cost effective. Once made it will be very easy to operate and hint the force in a very precise manner about the enemies presence.

India shares border with many of its untrustable neighbours . So it is very much required for a country like India to keep its eye on every movement in its air and land.

In a modern warfare generation large number of imports of these crafts may burden in the budget, so as our indigenous firm HAL is developing ,it will comparably cost less and a huge opportunity of exporting these for friendly countries.

And moreover, its been said that HAL and IIT kanpur have signed a pact to develop this RUAV will apparently whoop an experience for our technical institutions to build and develop further in this field.

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