Army takes delivery of four ''Nishant'' UAVs

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) After completing successful flighttrials in Rajasthan, Indian Army recently took delivery offour indigenously designed and developed ''Nishant'' UnmannedAerial Vehicles (UAV).

"Nishant has successfully completed the series ofconfirmatory trials conducted by the Indian Army at ChandanRange in Pokharan recently before (the Army) taking deliveryof a set of four UAVs together with ground systems," DRDOofficials said here.

To be used for battle-field reconnaissance in both dayand night, surveillance, target tracking and correction ofartillery fire, the DRDO-developed UAV can also be utilisedfor anti-insurgency operations.

The electro optical, electronic intelligence andcommunication intelligence payload on-board the UAV make itsuitable for a range of operations both during wartime andcounter insurgency operations, they said.

The Nishant is capable of being launched from a hydropneumatic launcher, without the need of a runway. The UAV canbe controlled by ''Ground Control Systems'' mounted on Tatravehicles, DRDO distinguished scientist Prahlada said.

With an endurance level of four and a half hours, Nishantis designed for safe recovery from a desired place with thehelp of parachutes.

Along with the regiments which would be operating theUAVs, the confirmatory flight of the UAV were witnessed by theDirector General of artillery Lt General Vinod Nayanar andDirector of Aeronautical Development Agency P S Krishnan.

Nishant has been designed and developed by DRDO''sAeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), whichspecialises in developing UAVs, flight control systems andsimulators in association with other labs.