BANGALORE: While many research projects for the Indian Armed Forces continue to be in limbo, a defence research laboratory is now contemplating making a product out of their research which was originally meant to be only for testing and learning purposes.Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is now trying to make a product out of their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Rustom-I after it had its 14th successful test flight in Kolar on Tuesday.“Rustom-I was only meant to serve training and technical learning purposes for Rustom-II. But Rustom-I has itself become a product,’’ ADE director P S Krishnan said.The first flight of the UAV was conducted in November 2009. Terming it as a ‘spin-off’ and a ‘side-benefit’ of the Rustom II project, Krishnan said it was currently being tested without the consultation of the end user.The UAV flew for two hours and 10 minutes in which it is said to have achieved an altitude of about 3.5 km (11,500 ft) above ground level (AGL) and reached speeds of over 140 kmph, a DRDO statement said. They also stated that the 690 kg UAV’s weight was the heaviest so far and it flew in an extended range of about 50 km. The UAV would now be tested in different payloads for ‘altitude and endurance,’ he said. “We are currently in a development phase and it would take over 20 test flights for the UAV. ‘’Now we will be testing the UAV in different corners of flight altitude,’’ he said.
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