SOURCE: AFI
In an exciting development for India’s defence sector, the Archer NG, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), is on the brink of conducting its first flight. Sources indicate that the UAV has successfully completed both low-speed and high-speed taxi trials, setting the stage for its maiden sortie likely in February.
The completion of these trials is crucial as they simulate the conditions of actual flight, testing the aircraft’s systems under controlled ground conditions. Low-speed taxi trials ensure that the UAV can handle basic movement, steering, and braking, while high-speed trials test the integrity of the airframe, control surfaces, and propulsion at near-flight speeds.
Archer NG, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), features advanced avionics, a Ground Control Station (GCS), and a Ground Data Terminal (GDT) derived from the Rustom-2 program. With an all-up weight of around 1.8 tonnes and capable of carrying a payload up to 400 kg, it is designed for roles including surveillance, reconnaissance, and potentially armed missions.
The Archer NG aims to meet the Indian Armed Forces’ requirement for a UAV that can operate at altitudes up to 30,000 feet with an endurance of 24 hours, addressing the shortcomings of earlier Indian UAV programs like TAPAS.
The UAV’s ability to perform multiple missions, from intelligence gathering to precision strikes, will significantly bolster India’s strategic reconnaissance and combat capabilities, especially in the volatile border areas.
here’s considerable anticipation from both the public and military sectors about how Archer NG will perform, especially given India’s past challenges with UAV development. Success here could shift perceptions and encourage further investment in indigenous defence projects.