Focus: Facts for Prelims
Why in News?
Recently, the Prime Minister of India has shared aerial coverage of Ground and Air displays captured from an indigenously developed Medium Altitude Long Endurance TAPAS UAV during rehearsal from a height of 12000 feet.
TAPAS UAV – Features and Development:
- TAPAS UAV stands for Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201.
- Previously known as Rustom-II, it is named after Rustom Damania, a former professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
- The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru is responsible for designing and developing the UAV, with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Limited as production partners.
- TAPAS UAV is specifically designed for surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles and is equipped with advanced payloads, including the capability for auto-landing.
- The UAV is designed to capture high-quality, real-time images and signal intelligence from distant locations.
- It is a technologically advanced UAV that matches the capabilities of other contemporary UAVs while being cost-effective.
