TAPAS-BH-201

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Not to be confused with DRDO Rustom.

DRDO TAPAS BH-201
TAPAS-BH-201.png
An artist's impression of TAPAS-BH-201
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin India
Manufacturer Bharat Electronics
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Designer Aeronautical Development Establishment
First flight 15 November 2016
Status Prototype flight testing
Developed from DRDO Rustom-H

Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon-201 or TAPAS BH-201 (lit. 'Heat') is a high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which used to be previously referred as Rustom-II, being developed in India by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) on the lines of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.[1][2][3] First flight of the UAV took place in November 2016 after a 3-year delay.[4] It was revealed at that time that the UAV has been renamed from Rustom-II to TAPAS-BH-201.[5]

Design[]

In October, 2010 a senior DRDO official had stated that the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an obvious template for the Rustom program. DRDO built a credible unmanned flying platform. The way the Americans converted a robust surveillance drone into a combat drone is something we are confident we can replicate for the Rustom-H. It will have a great deal of mission flexibility.

In February 2012, ADE Director P S Krishnan stated that designing of Rustom-II has been completed, purchase orders have been placed and we are on schedule to fly for the first time in February 2014.[6] In contrast to Rustom-I, the next generation version is equipped with enhanced aerodynamic configuration, digital flight control, navigation system, communication intelligence, medium and long-range electro-optic payloads and synthetic aperture radar that will enable it to see through the clouds. Rustom-2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads depending on the mission objectives including electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness systems. It has a satellite communication link to relay situation in the battle theatre on real time basis.

Development[]

In September 2013, the Rustom-II began full power taxi trials at the Kolar airfield near Bengaluru. Powered by twin NPO-Saturn 36MT turboprop engines, the Rustom-II is being developed as a long endurance surveillance platform capable of deploying precision weapons in future. It would carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for all the three armed forces in India. Once inducted, this indigenous medium altitude long endurance (MALE) multirole drone is likely to be an asset for Indian armed forces for its surveillance capability as well as for its use as an unmanned armed combat vehicle.

TAPAS-BH-201 had a successful maiden flight on 16 November 2016 at Challakere, 200 km away from Bengaluru in the district of Chitradurga in south Indian state of Karnataka. It was tested for take off, landing and other parameters. Ten pilotless UAV's would be produced in one year. Nine prototypes more advanced than the initial one would follow for testing prior to the beginning of certification process.[7]

Powered by twin NPO-Saturn 36MT turboprop engines, the Rustom-II is being developed as a long endurance surveillance platform capable of deploying precision weapons. With a wingspan of more than 20m and an endurance of 24–30 hours, the UCAV needs a runway to takeoff and land unlike traditional UAVs, which makes it more trustworthy.

The drone can loiter autonomously at high altitudes performing real-time, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) with its SAR and EO sensors. When a target is identified, it will either illuminate the target with a laser designator for other strike aircraft, or descend to lower altitude and attack the target with its own air-to-surface missiles.

The capability of automatic takeoff and landing makes it comparable to some of the best in the world. The team developing the Rustom-II has faced weight reduction and systems issues, resulting in delay in its debut flight by over two years. It will now undergo through a rigorous phase of flight trials.

On October 2020, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) flight tested the Rustom-2 medium altitude long endurance indigenous prototype drone and achieved eight hours of flying at an altitude of 16,000 ft at Chitradurga, Karnataka. The prototype is expected to achieve a height of 26,000 ft and endurance of 18 hours by 2020 end.

The advanced version of TAPAS BH-201 will include greater endurance of 3,000 km and service ceiling of 50,000 ft, in addition to the weapons ability to deploy a wider variety of weapons, and payload of 3,000 kg . The Indian Army, IAF, Navy and Coast Guard have all expressed strong interest in the Rustom-II, though firm orders will clearly only land during advanced flight testing.[8]

On 16 December 2021, TAPAS-BH-201 successfully crossed 25,000 ft and 10 hours endurance milestone. DRDO is now planning to achieve 30,000 ft and 18 hours endurance by February 2022 after which the system will be handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for mass production.[9]

Specifications[]

Data from Defstrat.com,[10] and stargazer2006.online.fr[11]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 350 kg (772 lb) payload
  • Length: 9.5[10] m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 20.6 m (67 ft 7 in)
  • Empty weight: 1,800 kg (3,968 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × NPO-Saturn 36MT engines[12] wing-mounted turboprop, 73.55 kW (98.63 hp) each (Prototype)
  • Powerplant: 2 × CVRDE indigenous , 130 kW (180 hp) each (Production)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140 mph, 121 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 125–175 km/h (78–109 mph, 67–94 kn)
  • Ferry range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
  • Endurance: 30 hours [13][14]
  • Service ceiling: 8,229.6 m (27,000 ft)

See also[]

  • Unmanned Air Vehicle

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References[]

  1. ^ "First flight of UAV Rustom-2 scheduled in Feb, 2014". The Economic Times. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Unmanned: The Future of Air Wars". SP's Aviation. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  3. ^ "India may soon have its own 'Predator drones'". Rediff News. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. ^ "DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. ^ "TAPAS only for surveillance, may be morphed for combat duty: DRDO chief". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. ^ "ADE Finalizes Rustom-2 UAV Flight, Reveals Future Drone Projects for Defence". Defence Now. 25 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. ^ "DRDO's combat drone Rustom-2 flies for the first time - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Rustom-2 similar to the US Predator, will be able to deliver precision bombs deep inside Pak And China". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  9. ^ Peri, Dinakar (15 December 2021). "Rustom-2 indigenous UAV crosses a milestone". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Made in India". South Asia Defence Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  11. ^ "DRDO-ADE 'Rustom-I' and 'Rustom-H'". Stargazer. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  12. ^ "India Now Wants Hundreds Of UAVs". Aviation Week. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  13. ^ "DRDO's Rustom-2 drone takes-off, India goes for armed Heron".
  14. ^ Jha, Manish Kumar (11 March 2021). "DRDO's Light Tank Will Be Power Pack As "The Highest Altitude Operable Tank In The Globe": G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO". BW BusinessWorld. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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