In a recent and unfortunate event, an indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) known as Tapas experienced a crash near a village in Karnataka on August 20th. This UAV, developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a unit under the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) serving the Indian Armed Forces, has now come under scrutiny due to this incident.
The UAV, referred to as Tapas, encountered its mishap close to Vaddikere village within Karnataka's Chitradurga district, as reported through a tweet from PTI. Responding to the crash, the DRDO has initiated an inquiry in an attempt to comprehend the factors that led to this unfortunate outcome.
The specific UAV involved in the crash carried the prototype serial number 017A-14 and was among a set of six prototypes currently undergoing testing. With an impressive capacity for more than 18 hours of flight time at an altitude of 28,000 feet, the Tapas UAV was engineered to bear diverse payloads. These payloads encompass tasks such as electronic intelligence, communication intelligence, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, which collectively enable the UAV to effectively monitor enemy activities for extended periods.
Despite this setback, the Indian Armed Forces have shown keen interest in acquiring a total of 76 production variants of the Tapas UAV. Among these allocations, 60 units are designated for deployment by the Indian Army, followed by 12 for the Indian Air Force (IAF), and an additional four for the Indian Navy.
A significant milestone for the Tapas UAV was achieved recently on June 27th, when it successfully completed its 200th flight. This achievement was particularly noteworthy as it offered a demonstration of its capabilities to a team representing various branches of the Indian Armed Forces. The flight took off from the advanced testing range operated by ADE in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Following this accomplishment, the DRDO announced that the UAV is now prepared for user evaluation trials, which are expected to commence in August, according to a report by Reuters. These trials hold the vital role of allowing the Indian Armed Forces to rigorously assess the UAV's performance in real-world scenarios, thereby ensuring its effectiveness and reliability for future missions.
Moreover, the UAV exhibited advanced capabilities by effectively transferring its command and control from a ground-based station to a remote station situated 148 kilometers away at the Karwar naval base. This achievement showcased the UAV's versatility and marked another significant achievement for the Tapas project.