ADDING TO THE ARSENAL

India will soon have a combat drone

- PRADIP R. SAGAR

The war in Ukraine has once again highlighted the role of drones in combat. Currently, Indian forces are dependent on foreign-made drones, and that too to gather intelligence. But soon, India will have a drone that can be used in armed missions.

Tapas-BH-201, developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), recently achieved an altitude of 28,000ft and 18 hours of endurance. The agency, under the DRDO, began developing the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle a decade ago at a cost of ₹1,540.74 crore; it was later revised to ₹1,786 crore.

“We have a good structural design,” said ADE director Y. Dilip. “This is the first time an India-made drone is going for the certification process. And, very soon, it will be inducted into the armed forces.”

The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) now has to certify the drone for its airworthiness by checking its load factors, safety and airframe design.