Rudrastra Drone
Source: India Today
GS II: Science and Technology
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Rudrastra Drone
- What is Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)?
Why in the News?
Recently army successfully tested the Rudrastra Drone.
News in Brief
- Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) has successfully completed a crucial trial of its hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV, Rudrastra.
- Test conducted at the Pokharan Firing Range.
- Conducted under stringent performance parameters set by the Indian Army.
- Rudrastra covered a mission radius of over 50 km while maintaining a stable real-time video feed.
About Rudrastra Drone
- Range: Total range of 170 km, including loitering time.
- Endurance: Up to 1.5 hours of flight time.
- Warhead: Equipped with airburst munitions, effective for anti-personnel roles.
- Strike Mechanism: High-altitude deployment to maximise destruction over a wide radius.
- Features: Can operate autonomously, relay real-time video, and return to base.
- Drone can take down targets at a range of over 50 KM.
What is Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)?
- Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft are advanced vehicles capable of ascending and descending vertically without the need for traditional runways.
- They combine the benefits of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, offering flexibility in takeoff/landing and high-speed flight.
- VTOL technology is rapidly evolving and plays a significant role in military, urban air mobility, and disaster relief operations.
Daily Current Affairs: Click Here