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Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
What is Rudrastra? India's deadly VTOL drone that can loiter, lock, and eliminate from 50 km away
India's Rudrastra, a homegrown VTOL drone, has been successfully tested by the Indian Army, marking a significant advancement in battlefield technology. Developed by Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited, this drone can perform precision strikes across borders without endangering soldiers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Rudrastra? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is it special? What can Rudrastra do? What's next? Imagine a drone that lifts off vertically like a helicopter, flies long distances like a jet, locks onto enemy positions deep across the border, and then returns home, all on its own. That's Rudrastra , India's latest homegrown battlefield tech marvel, successfully tested by the Indian Army With the battlefield becoming smarter and deadlier, Rudrastra marks a turning point in how India plans to strike enemies from a safe distance, no boots on the ground, just precision from the Indian Army has successfully tested Rudrastra, a fully indigenous drone with vertical takeoff and landing ( VTOL ) capability, designed to carry out precision strikes across the border without risking soldiers' is a hybrid VTOL drone developed by Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SDAL). It can not only take off like a helicopter but also cruise like an aircraft, making it versatile and hard to spot. The drone is equipped with smart warheads meant for anti-personnel roles, meaning it can target enemy soldiers and positions with high drone can hit targets more than 50 km away. In tests at the Pokhran range, it demonstrated a full range of 170 km and stayed in the air for nearly 90 minutes, relaying real-time video and returning on its own. It even dropped an airburst munition that exploded low to the ground, damaging a wide area, perfect for enemy camps or meant for deep strikes, think enemy artillery guns or terrorist hideouts well inside hostile territory. The drone can quietly sneak in, strike, and return, all without risking lives. It gives the Army a powerful 'stand-off weapon' that works from a safe Army is now planning to buy these drones in large numbers. Indigenous drone makers have been asked to show off their tech as India moves to build a drone force fit for future wars. With threats constantly evolving, unmanned systems like Rudrastra could become a frontline weapon in both defence and counterterror from ET Bureau
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hybrid vertical take-off UAV successfully tested at Pokhran range
1 2 Nagpur: A hybrid vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL-UAV), which can cover a 50km radius with 8 kg ammunition — developed by Nagpur's Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SDAL) — was successfully tested at the Pokhran range on Wednesday. Named Rudrastra, this is a higher-range UAV that can penetrate deeper into enemy territory and come back to the original launch point. The current version has the capacity to hit troops and strike down armoured tanks. Sources said four players participated in the trials, and SDAL's UAV emerged successful. The UAV has a real-time video link and can successfully return to the original launch point. The total range, including loitering at target, exceeded 170km with an estimated endurance of 1.5 hours. Parameters like vertical take-off and landing, high endurance, precision targeting, and mission flexibility were evaluated during trials, said sources part of the development. One of the significant highlights was the successful deployment of a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead, which can target enemy troops. Dropped from medium altitude, the munition executed an airburst detonation at low height. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo This achieved a lethal effect over a wide radius, meeting tactical effectiveness benchmarks, said a note about the trials. The systems have been manufactured in Nagpur, and the next step would be to supply them to the army. Based on the requirement by the army, around 40 entities took part in the development. However, only four could come up with the final product for the trials. The trials of Rudrastra follow the successful test-fire of the Bhargavastra — counter-drone system developed by SDAL held last month. This is dubbed to be the cheapest system that can bring down drone swarms with mini missiles. SDAL makes Nagastra Loitering Munition, which can carry up to 1.5 kg of payload and was also used in Operation Sindoor. Advanced versions of Nagastra are also being made as work on manufacturing Bhargavastra has also begun, said sources. The Rudrastra was developed at SDAL's plant in Nagpur and an internal evaluation was conducted here before taking it to Pokhran. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Army successfully tests Rudrastra
The Army has undertaken successful trials of indigenous vertical take off and landing (VTOL) drones being developed for cross-border strikes to take down enemy artillery positions. The trials have been conducted at the Pokhran firing range , with the drones demonstrating their ability to take down targets at a range of over 50 km. Equipped with precision-guided warheads that can be used in an anti-personnel role, the drones can relay back live video and return to the launch position in automated mode. The Army is looking to acquire the drones in significant numbers as a stand off weapon that can target enemy firing positions, including artillery guns placed well inside enemy territory. Sources said that indigenous drone manufacturers have been invited to demonstrate the capability of their systems for the Army requirement. On Wednesday, Solar Aerospace and Defence Limited (SDAL) successfully completed a trial of its UAV named Rudrastra that is being developed for a variety of roles for the armed forces. The drone demonstrated a total range of 170 km, which included loitering over the target area and an endurance of close to an hour-and-a-half. The munition dropped from the drone from a high altitude was an airburst version that exploded at a low height and destroyed targets over a wide radius as required by the Army. The armed forces have been looking at indigenous solutions to meet evolving challenges of the battlefield and have been focusing on unmanned systems. In terms of offensive weapons, the focus has been on drones that can strike 50-100 km inside enemy territory to meet mission requirements that include taking down terrorist infrastructure and enemy positions that provide covering fire for infiltration attempts. Live Events
