Indian Army Approves Nishant UAV

By Neelam Mathews mathews.neelam@gmail.com
NEW DELHI

India’s Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has completed a series of confirmation trials conducted by the Indian army at Chandan Range Pokharan in western India.
The successful flight trials were conducted by the army before taking delivery of a set of four Nishant UAVs and ground systems. More orders are expected.
Nishant is designed and developed by the Defense Research & Development Organization’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) laboratory, which specializes in UAVs, flight control systems and simulators.
Capable of being launched from a hydro-pneumatic launcher without the need of a runway, Nishant is supported by ground control station equipment mounted on “Tatra” vehicles, according to Dr. Prahlada, head of aeronautics research at DRDO.
The system is recovered with the help of parachutes and landing bags and can be used for day/night battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance, target tracking and localization and correction of artillery fire. The UAV has an endurance of 4.5 hr.
Nishant photo: DRDO