Nishant UAV clears tests, inducted by army

New Delhi: India's indigenously developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Nishant has successfully completed its series of confirmatory trials which were carried out by the Indian Army at the Chandan ranges in Pokhran, Rajasthan, ahead of induction.

''Nishant, the UAV, has successfully completed the series of confirmatory trials conducted by the Indian Army at Chandan Range, Pokharan recently,'' a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) release said here Thursday.

DRDO chief controller for research and development (aeronautics and services interaction), Dr Prahlada, said the versatile Nishant was designed for launch from a hydro-pneumatic launcher which did away the need for runways.

The Nishant UAV is a versatile system as the launch vehicle can be parked in a safe area and shifted to a desired area for launch. The system consists of an air vehicle supported by ground control station equipment mounted on Tatra vehicles.

The UAV has endurance of four-and-half hours.

Once the mission is over the UAV can be recovered through a system that relies on parachutes and landing bags.