Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has launched its newly developed rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle RUAV (Rotary-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) at the Aero India 2021 defence fair, which began on February 3rd. It was stated that the platform was developed to help carry loads at high altitude.

RUAV, which is indicated to start the detailed design phase soon, has a load carrying capacity of about 150 kg. The platform can also be equipped with infrared/optics for observational purposes.

HAL executives say that their area of expertise as a company is on rotary aerial vehicles and that it will be relatively easy to carry out the RUAV project.

Subcontractors of the unmanned rotary winged aerial vehicle’s power pack and other systems have been identified. The platform is scheduled to be tested in the next 1-2 years.

Meanwhile, China, which has strained diplomatic relations with India, introduced a similar drone to RUAV in the middle of last year. The platform, called the AR-500C, could be operational for five hours, with a maximum take-off weight of 500 kilograms.