Indigenous Tapas Drone: The indigenously created Tapas medium altitude long endurance drone has piqued the interest of both the Indian Air Force and Navy.
According to defence sources speaking to ANI, the Indian Navy and Air Force have had conversations and exchanged information with the defence Research and Development Organisation about the drone’s capabilities and potential uses in the services.
During a DRDO encounter with the military, the capabilities of the Tapas drone were covered in great detail. According to them, the Indian Air Force has contacted the DRDO about this as well.
According to the authorities, the DRDO is also planning to provide the Indian Navy the two Tapas drones that are now in its inventory so that they may be tested and trialled in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Indian Navy may place an order for around 10–12 drones if the trials are effective and fulfil the functions that the force needs them to.
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Indigenous Tapas Drone
Before making any further decisions on the matter, the Indian Air Force will reportedly consider other factors as well as the drones’ performance.
Rejecting allegations that the Tapas drone project has been shelved, the DRDO has declared that it is still moving forward to create the Tapas drones.
The Aeronautical Development Establishment Laboratory’s Tapas drones have been disqualified from mission mode projects as they are unable to fully satisfy the Joint Services Qualitative Requirements of flying at 30,000 feet for more than 24 hours at a time.
The defence forces tested the Tapas drones, and they were able to fly for more than eighteen hours and reach a height of 28,000 feet.
According to DRDO authorities, the concerned laboratory will be working on enhancing the drone’s designs and power to better fulfil the altitude and endurance standards for service, which it was unable to meet in the most recent testing.
Under the direction of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the primary defence research organisation has been working on significant drone projects, such as the Ghatak and Archer unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
