DRDO developing ultra lightweight UAV

Defence Research and Development Organisation is developing an ultra lightweight Unmanned Aerial Vehicle which can be used by troops for reconnaissance of their area of operation.

"The Micro Air Vehicle has a span of 300 millimetre and weighs 300 grammes. It has been equipped with day-light TV camera. Cruise speed is 20 knots (37 kmph) and operational altitude is 30-100 metres," DRDO said in Defence Ministry's annual report.

The MAV can be used for close-range situational awareness by troops within a radius of two kilometres and it is expected to be useful in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in North East and Jammu and Kashmir, it said.

Earlier, the Defence Research and Development Organisation had developed a 1.5 kg Unmanned Aerial Vehicle called 'Netra'. It was developed by Pune-based Aerial Research and Development Establishment.

With successful design and development of various UAVs, ARDE is planning to diversify the technology and make technologically superior products, DRDO officials said.

The agency is also designing UAVs with bigger ranges and endurance to penetrate deeper in the operational areas and enemy territories.

'Rustom' is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned combat air vehicle being developed by it for the three services.

Another UAV 'Nishant' is tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory and also for reconnaissance, training, surveillance, target designation, artillery fire correction and damage assessment.