India successfully flight tested, a wheeled version of the Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) called Panchi, capable of taking-off an...
India successfully flight tested, a wheeled version of the Nishant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) called Panchi, capable of taking-off and landing fron small airstrips.
The maiden flight lasted about 20 minutes and reached speeds about 150 kmph.
The conventional Nishant UAV already inducted into Indian Army is a multi-mission UAV with Day/Night operational capability, launched from an all-terrain hydro-pneumatic launcher and is recovered with the help of on board parachute system and an underbelly airbag.
It is designed for battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, target tracking& localization, and artillery fire correction. The electro-optic payloads are mounted on a stabilized steerable platform. A sophisticated image processing system is used for analyzing the images transmitted from the UAV.
The UAV Panchi has all the surveillance capabilities of UAV Nishant. However, it will have longer endurance as it does not have to carry the air bags and parachute system as in the case of UAV Nishant.
Panchi was developed by the ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) within 8 months. It features a fixed tricycle landing gear and has a jam resistant command link and digital down link for transmission of imagery. The air vehicle has autonomous flight capabilities and is controlled from a user friendly Ground Control Station.
Panchi has a length of about 4.63 meter, wingspan of 6.57 meter, and weighs around 380 kg. It has a maximum speed of 185 km/hour, and can cruise at a speeds from 125-150 km/hour at a service ceiling of 3,600 meter.
Panchi is also powered by an indigenous 55 hp wankel engine in pusher configuration. It has a 45 kg payload and 160+ km range.
