India’s TAPAS Surveillance Drone To Make First Public Flight Next Week

The first public flight of India’s TAPAS surveillance drone will take place at Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru next week, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has said.

DRDO's TAPAS, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle, is capable of operating at altitudes up to 28,000 feet, with an endurance of 18 plus hours.

"The DRDO’s participation in the mega show will be marked by the...flying debut of indigenous UAV TAPAS-BH (tactical aerial platform for advanced surveillance - beyond horizon)," the DRDO has said in a statement .

The platform, DRDO's statement ahead of AeroIndia 2023 adds, is a solution for the to the tri-services Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) requirements.

The platform is capable of operating in both day and night conditions, and it can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans. It is equipped with sensors and cameras that allow it to capture high-resolution images and videos.

The data collected by the drone can be transmitted to a ground control station where it can be analyzed and used to make informed decisions.