Make in India: Challenges & Prospects

Rudrastra UAV passes key army trial. 

Why in the News?

India advanced its indigenous defence tech with SDAL’s successful trial of the Hybrid VTOL UAV Rudrastra at Pokhran.

Rudrastra UAV passes key army trial. 

About Rudrastra:

  • Rudrastra is an indigenously developed Hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV built by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
  • The UAV is engineered for deep-strike capabilities, capable of carrying out precision missions without endangering human soldiers.
  • It is tailored for anti-personnel roles, with airburst munitions designed to strike targets across hostile borders.
  • Rudrastra blends rotor-based vertical lift with fixed-wing cruise capability, enhancing deployment across diverse terrains.
  • It is considered a “stand-off” weapon, enabling missions deep into enemy territory with autonomous return capability.

Key Features:

  • Hybrid VTOL Design: Can vertically take off and land like a helicopter and cruise like a fixed-wing aircraft, enhancing flexibility.
  • Extended Range: Demonstrated a total mission range of over 170 km, including loiter time over the target.
  • Real-Time Surveillance: Maintained a stable video link while covering a 50+ km mission radius.
  • Precision Strike Capability: Successfully deployed airburst munitions, effective for area damage and anti-personnel use.
  • Endurance: Achieved a flight endurance of 1.5 hours, ideal for extended ISR or strike operations.
  • Autonomous Navigation: Returned independently to the launch site after completing the mission.
  • Made in India: Fully developed by an Indian defence company, supporting indigenous innovation in combat drones.
[UPSC 2025] With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements:

I. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing. II. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering. III. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None*

 

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