What’s in News:

• The indigenous medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)- Rustom-2 developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to complete all user trials by August 2023
• A programme for a more capable High Altitude Long Range (HALE) UAV is also in the works
• It has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru with production partners being Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Limited.

The need

• High endurance UAVs are a priority requirement for the armed forces especially in the standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh.
• The armed forces rely heavily on the Israeli Searcher and Heron drones and need more such UAVs.

References:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indigenous-uav-rustom-2-to-complete-user-trials-by-august-2023/article66032155.ece
2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rustom-2-indigenous-uav-crosses-a-milestone/article37963891.ece