DRDO Rustom

The DRDO Rustom (meaning warrior) is medium altitude long endurance and unmanned air vehicle(UAV) being developed by defence research and development organisation for the three services Indian army, Indian Navy and Indian airforce of the Indian armed forces. Rustom is  derived from the NLS's LCRA developed by a team under the leadership of late prof rustom Damania in the 1980s. The UAV will have structural changes and new engine. Rustom will replace the Heron UAVs in service with the Indian armed forces .
                 

Aerodynamic configuration, high aspect ratio ring wing,composite airframe integrated with propulsion system. Digital flight control and navigation system, automatic take off and landing, payloads with high resolution and precision stabilized platform. There will be a Three variants:-

1- RUSTOM I :- tactical UAV with endurance of 12 hours (prototype flight testing).

2-RUSTOM H:- Longer UAV with Flight endurance of over 24 hours (under development).

3-RUSTOM II:- Unmanned combat air vehicle based on RUSTOM-H model. It is often compared with a Predator drone Indian scientist and media (prototype flight testing).

                  

1- National origin:- India

2-First Flight:- 11 November 2009 (Rustom I) & 15 November 2016 (Rustom 2).

3- Primary user:- Indian Air Force

                                Indian army

                                Indian Navy

4- Crew:- None

5- Payload:- 95 kg (Rustom 1) & 350 kg 

                       (Rustom H)

6- Length:- 5.12m(Rustom 1)

                    9.5 m (Rustom H)

7- Wingspan:- 7.9m( Rustom 1)

                          20.6m( Rustom H)

8-Power plant:- 

RUSTOM 1:-1×lycoming O-320 engines four cylinder air cooled horizontally opposed engine, 112 KW

RUSTOM H:- 2×NPO Saturn 36 MT engines. 73.55 KW

9- Max speed:- 150 km/h (Rustom 1)

                           225km/h (Rustom H)

10- Range :- 

 LINE OF SIGHT:- 250 Km

 RELAY COMMUNICATION:-350 km 

11-ferry range:- 1000 km (Rustom H )