Archer-NG (Next Generation), the advanced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is all set to take to skies very soon.
According to leading aerospace and defence journalist Anantha Krishnan M, the high-speed taxi trials of Archer-NG have been completed.
Designed for multiple roles, including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), as well as precision strike missions, Archer-NG can reportedly carry a payload of over 300kg. Quoting military sources, Anantha Krishnan, in a tweet, said efforts are on to fly the UAV ahead of the Bengaluru Air Show, scheduled for February 10 to 14 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru.
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"Else, before March Archer-NG will have its first flight," the source has been quoted as saying.
Archer-NG, which is capable of operating at altitudes up to 30,000 feet, can carry various weapon systems, including smart anti-airfield weapons (SAAWs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
According to the defence journalist, Archer-NG is expected to meet the specifications of the now-downgraded project TAPAS (earlier R-II). "It will be a weaponized UAV using the same avionics, software, Ground Control Station and Ground Data Terminal developed for TAPAS," he wrote.
The Archer- NG said to be armed with laser guided rockets, bombs, and loitering munitions having a range of 100 km.
Tri-Services Command (CINCAN) based out of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have shown interest in this new desi UAV, Anantha Krishnan wrote.
