SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Indian defense community was recently captivated by the first publicly available picture of the Archer-NG Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) going through taxi trials, a significant step toward its much-anticipated debut. This marks a major milestone in the development of the Archer-NG, which is set to become a cornerstone of India’s advanced UAV capabilities.
The Archer-NG is a weaponized MALE UAV designed to perform both intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions and precision strike operations. With a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 1,750 kg and the ability to carry a 300 kg (660 lb) payload, it is designed to offer long-endurance, high-speed, and high-performance capabilities, making it a highly versatile platform in modern warfare.
One of the defining features of the Archer-NG is its impressive range. The UAV is capable of flying up to 1,000 km (620 miles) with both Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) operations, ensuring it can perform missions far from its base of operations. This extended range, combined with its endurance, makes the Archer-NG ideal for monitoring vast areas or conducting long-duration surveillance and strike missions.
Another major highlight of the Archer-NG is its weaponization, designed to carry a variety of precision-guided munitions. The UAV will be equipped to deploy laser-guided rockets, bombs, and loitering munitions, with an operational range of up to 100 km. This makes it not just a surveillance platform but also a formidable weapon in combat scenarios, providing enhanced precision and flexibility for the Indian Armed Forces.
The Archer-NG employs a single-engine, twin-boom pusher configuration, which is an important design choice for enhancing its stability, reducing drag, and improving aerodynamic efficiency. This configuration allows the UAV to remain stable during long endurance flights while also providing the flexibility to carry heavy payloads and integrate a range of advanced sensors and weapon systems.
This unique design also offers additional benefits in terms of operational functionality. The pusher configuration allows for better protection of the engine from debris and potential damage, which is particularly valuable during ground operations and low-level flight engagements. The twin-boom design further increases the UAV’s stability and maneuverability, making it a highly effective platform for both surveillance and strike missions.
As of January 2025, the high-speed taxi trials for the Archer-NG have been successfully completed, marking a critical milestone in its development. The successful completion of these trials ensures that the UAV is ready for the next stage in its flight testing, with the first flight expected to occur in February 2025, likely before the Aero India 2025 airshow at Yelahanka Air Force Station.
The successful taxi trials indicate that the Archer-NG is on track to meet the required performance parameters, and it is expected to undergo more rigorous flight tests in the coming months. As this UAV moves closer to its first official flight, it signals a growing sense of excitement within the Indian defense industry and among global defense observers, who are keen to see this advanced UAV take to the skies.
The Archer-NG is also expected to meet and exceed the performance targets of its predecessor, the TAPAS-BH-201 program, which was designed to meet similar goals but failed to meet certain key operational criteria. With the Archer-NG now set to take over this responsibility, it offers the Indian Armed Forces a more reliable and capable MALE UAV with enhanced endurance, payload capacity, and weapon integration.
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