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RUSTOM, the medium altitude long endurance Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment, a premier Defence Research and Development Organisation lab specializing in UAVs and flight control systems, was successfully flown in its maiden flight here on Saturday. The aircraft was flown exactly as planned, up to a height of 3000 feet and remained airborne for 30 minutes and completed all mission requirements. It taxied, took off and landed (among the most challenging maneuvers for a UAV), using a runway at an air field owned by Taneja Aerospace, Bangalore, like a normal aircraft with the ground based pilot in full control monitoring every maneuver of the aircraft and auto mode remaining on. Ruston, with a designed endurance of 12-15 hour, 25000 ft. altitude and 75 kg payload, is the forerunner to the more advanced Rustom H and unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). The data link for this aircraft has been developed by DEAL, another DRDO laboratory and the airframe has been built by Zephyr Aerospace, Coimbatore. The subsequent flights will test and demonstrate these capabilities such as way point navigation, altitude and endurance parameters, the systems for which have been already incorporated in the aircraft. Dr. Prahlada, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller R&D (Aeronautics & Services Interaction) who was present there briefed the mission details. Dr. G. Elangovan, distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller Research & Development (R&M), P.S. Krishnan, distinguished Scientist & Director Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), G. Natarajan, Program Director, G. Sreenivasamurthy, Project Director, and Ajoy Raman, Chairman FRR, witnessed the flight.

DRDO test flies Rustom unmanned aircraft