IAI-HAL NRUAV (Naval Rotary Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is a unmanned rotorcraft project being co-developed by Malat Solutions, a unit of IAI of Israel, and HAL of India for the Indian Navy.[1][2]

Design

edit

The IAI-HALNRUAV project consists of a Malat-made Helicopter Modification Suite (HeMoS) fitted on HAL's Chetan, an upgraded Chetak with Turbomeca TM 333 2M2 engines. The helicopter is planned to be used for unmanned operations and advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions from warship decks.[3]

IAI-HAL NRUAV will feature automatic vertical Take-off and Landing (AVTOL) from aviation-capable ships and from unprepared landing sites. It is intended to be employed as an elevated mast, which will extend the vessel's coverage over a much larger area, providing early warning and detection of aircraft, cruise missiles, surface vessels and even subsurface activities.[4] It is planned to have an endurance of 6 hours and up to a distance of 120 km from the launching vessel. The system is being designed to carry a variety of ISR payloads including SAR, EO, and SIGINT. The project was initiated in late 2008, to be completed in 36-48 months with a budget of 1,163 crore (US$139 million). The project is funded by the Indian Ministry of defense [5]

In October 2010, it was reported that the programme is plagued by the lack of a correct landing and take-off system for moving platforms such as the decks of warships and had run into serious delays.[6]

As of March 2019, a full-scale prototype has been developed and unveiled, and is currently awaiting clearance for a preliminary design review.[7]

Specifications

edit

General characteristics

  • Length: 12.84 m (42 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.09 m (10 ft 1.75 in)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,200[8] kg (4,850 lb)
  • Main rotor diameter: × 11.02 m (36 ft 1.75 in)
  • Main rotor area: 95.38 m2 (1,026.7 sq ft)
  • Propellers: turboshaft

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Range: 150 km (93 mi, 81 nmi)
  • Endurance: 6[8]
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft)

References

edit
  1. ^ 'India, Israel developing unmanned helicopter' – Times Of India
  2. ^ IAI completes unmanned helicopter development work
  3. ^ "Unmanned Chetak Helicopter – IDP Sentinel". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  4. ^ "India's Military and Civilian Technological Advancements: INDIA' CURRENT & FUTURE UAVs & UCAVs". Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
  5. ^ India lines up Israeli drones in race with Pak – Times Of India
  6. ^ "India's indigenous drones". Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  7. ^ defenceupdate (2019-03-23). "HAL RUAV:- India's First Unmanned Rotary-Wing Aerial Vehicle". Indian Defence Update. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  8. ^ a b "Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) - Military Malat Products NRUAV". Retrieved 6 February 2015.
edit