RUSTOM-2

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Context: The indigenous medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is expected to complete all user trials by August 2023

Details:

• It has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, with the production partners being Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd.
• It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The engine is Russian TRDD-50MT originally designed for cruise missiles.
• It is being developed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles and is capable of carrying different combinations of advanced payload and capable of auto landing, among others.
• Its navigation was done using GAGAN satellites through the onboard SATCOM system.
• High endurance UAVs are a priority requirement for the Indian armed forces especially in view of the stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh. 
• Rustom-2 is also known as Tapas-BH(Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201).

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indigenous-uav-rustom-2-to-complete-user-trials-by-august-2023/article66032155.ece?homepage=true