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TAPAS-BH-201
The Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201 or TAPAS BH-201(lit. 'Heat') (formerly referred to as Rustom-II until 2016) is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed in India by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) on the lines of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.
The UAV is a further development of twin-engine Rustom-H, which was a part of Rustom technology demonstrator programme of DRDO.
The first flight of the UAV took place in November 2016. On 14 January 2024, a government source disclosed that TAPAS-BH-201 had been officially closed as a mission mode project due to its inability to achieve the Joint Services Qualitative Requirements (JSQRs) for altitude and endurance. ADE will keep developing the UAV, enhancing its designs and boosting its power to better meet the demands of the armed forces, especially on endurance and altitude.
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 had then built a credible unmanned flying platform. According to various statements, "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. 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.
The project started at the cost of ₹1,540.74 crore (equivalent to ₹32 billion or US$330 million in 2023) but later revised to ₹1,786 crore (equivalent to ₹19 billion or US$200 million in 2023) as of 2022.
In September 2013, the Rustom-II began full power taxi trials at the Kolar airfield near Bengaluru. It would carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the Indian Armed Forces. 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 combat aerial 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 per year. Nine prototypes more advanced than the initial one would follow for testing prior to the beginning of certification process. Initially DRDO Chief S. Christopher denied arming Rustom-II. There was news of Rustom-II using power plant of Austro Engine but no confirmation from DRDO side considering a Chinese company Wanfeng Auto Holding Group acquired it through Diamond Aircraft Industries in 2016.
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TAPAS-BH-201
The Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201 or TAPAS BH-201(lit. 'Heat') (formerly referred to as Rustom-II until 2016) is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed in India by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) on the lines of General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.
The UAV is a further development of twin-engine Rustom-H, which was a part of Rustom technology demonstrator programme of DRDO.
The first flight of the UAV took place in November 2016. On 14 January 2024, a government source disclosed that TAPAS-BH-201 had been officially closed as a mission mode project due to its inability to achieve the Joint Services Qualitative Requirements (JSQRs) for altitude and endurance. ADE will keep developing the UAV, enhancing its designs and boosting its power to better meet the demands of the armed forces, especially on endurance and altitude.
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 had then built a credible unmanned flying platform. According to various statements, "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. 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.
The project started at the cost of ₹1,540.74 crore (equivalent to ₹32 billion or US$330 million in 2023) but later revised to ₹1,786 crore (equivalent to ₹19 billion or US$200 million in 2023) as of 2022.
In September 2013, the Rustom-II began full power taxi trials at the Kolar airfield near Bengaluru. It would carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the Indian Armed Forces. 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 combat aerial 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 per year. Nine prototypes more advanced than the initial one would follow for testing prior to the beginning of certification process. Initially DRDO Chief S. Christopher denied arming Rustom-II. There was news of Rustom-II using power plant of Austro Engine but no confirmation from DRDO side considering a Chinese company Wanfeng Auto Holding Group acquired it through Diamond Aircraft Industries in 2016.