IAI-HAL NRUAV

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

Design and development

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$173 million). The project is funded by the Indian Ministry of defense ^[5]

Deployment delayed

As of 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]

Specifications

Performance

• Endurance: 6 hours^[7]
• Range: 150 km
• Altitude: 15,000 ft
• Loiter speed: 60 knots
• Max speed: 100 knots

Technical Data

• Max. take-off weight: 2,200 kg^[7]
• Max. payload weight: 220 kg
• Main rotor diameter: 11.02 m
• Tail rotor diameter: 1.91 m
• Overall length: 12.84 m
• Overall height: 2.97 m

References

External links

• IAI UAV - Defence Update
• Chetak UAV - Livefist