RUSTAM : INDIAN DRONE

• India is now ready to place his name in the elite group of nations having predator drones with the successful test flight of RUSTAM - 2. It is the upgrade version to RUSTAM - 1 launched earlier.

• RUSTAM is designed indigenously by Defense Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and it is first of its kind Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) in India. 

• RUSTAM can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet above the ground. By the help of Synthetic Aperture Radar RUSTAM can see behind the clouds. 

• It has been designed for all the three forces of India that is Army, Navy & Air Force. 

• At present flying trial has been completed and now it will be tested with missiles. 

• It is a medium altitude long endurance UAV. It has an endurance of 24 hours. 

• It can perform surveillance and reconnaissance operations for India. Since it is a combat UAV it can perform military operations too if required same as US's predator drones. 

• The flight test conducted in Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga 250 KM from Bengalore where all the flight related system were tested. 

• The name of this UAV is dedicated to late Indian Scientist Prof. Rustam Damania.