- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 25 February successfully flew its Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Rustom 2 at its Aeronautical Test Range at Chalakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
- The flight assumes significance as this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine.
- Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the United States of America to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours.
- It is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads.
- It is part of the Rustom line of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which includes Rustom-I, Rustom-H and Rustom-C
- It is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV.
- Rustam-2 is a multi-mission UAV and is being developed to carry out the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the three Armed Forces with an endurance of 24 hours. It is capable to carry different combinations of payloads like Medium Range Electro Optic (MREO), Long Range Electro Optic (LREO), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT) and Situational Awareness Payloads (SAP) to perform missions during day and night.
