India is developing Nishan UAV

The Panchi, the wheeled version of the UAV Nishant, became the latest addition to the family of indigenously developed UAVs after it completed 20 minutes of its maiden flight on December 24, 2014.5 Capable of taking off and landing using small airstrips, the Panchi gives ‘mission advantage’ to operators as the turnaround time between sorties can be significantly reduced. The Panchi has all the surveillance capabilities of the Nishant, but it can stay in the air longer because it does not have to carry the airbag and parachute systems of the Nishant. It is also a light vehicle with its body made of composites, and has a high degree of stealth because it has a low radar cross-section signature.6 Having an endurance of four hours, it can track ground targets over an area of 165 km.

Development

To meet the Army’s operational requirement of a RPV (remotely piloted vehicle), it was decided in September 1988 that the Defence Research and Development Organisation would undertake the indigenous development of the UAV. The General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) was finalised by the Army in May 1990. The Nishant RPV made its first test flight in 1995. In July 1999, for the first time the Indian army deployed its new Nishant UAV system in the fight against guerilla forces backed by Pakistan in Kashmir. Nishant, which had been developed for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the Indian Army, was test flown again in early 2002. The indigenous Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) Nishant developed by ADE, DRDO had completed its 100th flight by June 15, 2002.  The Indian Army has placed an order for 12 Nishant UAVs along with ground support systems.  Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by DRDO for Indian Army was successfully flight tested near Kolar on 20 June 2008. Nishant has completed development phase and user trials. The present flight tests are pre confirmatory trials before induction into services.

General characteristics

1. Crew: None
2. Payload: 45 kg (99 lb) electro-optical, infrared or laser sensors
3. Length: 4.6 m
4. Wingspan: 6.5 m
5. Loaded weight: 350–380 kg
6. Powerplant: 1 × ALVIS AR-801, 55 bhp (41 kW)
7. Maximum speed: 216 km/h
8. Range: 100 km (62 mi)
9. Endurance: 4–5 hours
10. Service ceiling: 3,962 m

Variants

1. Nishant catapult
2. Panchi (Nishant Wheeled version)
3. Launch & recovery
4. Launch: Mobile hydropneumatic launcher (MHPL) system
5. Recovery: Parachute + landing bags