Engineering:DRDO AURA
| AURA (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft) | |
|---|---|
| Role | Unmanned Stealth Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Designer | Aeronautical Development Agency |
| Introduction | 2019-2020[1] |
| Status | Under Development |
| Primary user | Indian Air Force (expected) |
AURA is an autonomous stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Air Force .[2][3] The design work on the UCAV is to be carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Details of the project are classified.[4]
The UCAV will be capable of releasing missiles, bombs and precision-guided munitions. The programme is in its project definition stage. The design is in line with what former DRDO chief controller for Aeronautics said in 2007, that India's combat drone would be a stealthy flying-wing concept aircraft with internal weapons bay and a turbofan engine.[citation needed]
Description
The ADA describes the AURA as a "self-defending high-speed reconnaissance UAV with weapon firing capability". The AURA will cruise at medium altitude and will be capable of carrying two or more guided strike weapons with on-board sensors for targeting and weapon guidance.
The flight control system and data link packages of Aura (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) will be designed and developed jointly by ADA and Defence Electronics Application Laboratory.[5]
DRDO's Chief Controller, R&D (aeronautics), Dr Prahlada said, "Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,000 ft (9,144 m) and weighing less than 15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions) they will carry."[6] A non-afterburning variant of Kaveri was said to be used in the UCAV.[7] In 2015 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed Rajya Sabha that AURA will be powered by a Kaveri derivative engine ("dry" engine).[8]
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Boeing X-45
- Northrop Grumman X-47
- Lockheed Martin Polecat
- Dassault nEUROn
- BAE Taranis
- Boeing Phantom Ray
- Mikoyan Skat
References
- ↑ Aroor, Shiv (23 June 2012). "Indias first ever advanced Indian Unmanned Strike Air Vehicle will be ready for Air Force operations". India Today. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-unmanned-strike-air-vehicle-india-first-unmanned-combat-drone/1/201950.html.
- ↑ "India to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicle" (in en). Hindustan Times. IANS. 25 November 2009. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/india-to-develop-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle/story-gnfRezY6tbKLDa3mtkUdmI.html.
- ↑ "New Imagery Details Indian Aura UCAV". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 16 July 2012. http://aviationweek.com/awin/new-imagery-details-indian-aura-ucav.
- ↑ "India developing unmanned combat aerial vehicle". India Today. 2010-06-10. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/100966/India/india-developing-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle.html. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ Ghosh, Anirvan (17 January 2011). "We never had a single failure in 1,500 flights of Tejas: ADE". The Economic Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/sunday-et/people--places/we-never-had-a-single-failure-in-1500-flights-of-tejas-ade/articleshow/7294743.cms. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ↑ Pandit, Rajat (11 April 2011). "India quietly begins combat drone project". The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/India-quietly-begins-combat-drone-project/articleshow/7941545.cms.
- ↑ "DRDO CHIEF INTERVIEW P2: Confident About UCAV, Kaveri On Board". Live Fist Defence. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-03-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150324040715/http://www.livefistdefence.com/2013/06/drdo-chief-interview-p2-confident-about.html.
- ↑ "Indigenous Kaveri engine to power Unmanned Combat Aircraft". Business Standard. PTI. 30 July 2015. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/indigenous-kaveri-engine-to-power-unmanned-combat-aircraft-115073001331_1.html.
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