DRDO AURA

AURA
(Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft)
Unofficial artistic impression of AURA-I
Role Unmanned Stealth Bomber
Manufacturer Defence Research and Development Organisation
Designer ADA
Introduction 2019-2020[1]
Status Under Development
Primary user Indian Air Force
Indian Naval Air Arm (Expected)



AURA is an autonomous unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian Air Force.[2][3] The design work on the UCAV is to be carried out by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). Details of the project are classified.[4]

Introduction

The AURA will be a stealth UCAV, capable of releasing missiles, bombs and precision-guided munitions. The programme is in its project definition stage. The design is in line with what former DRDO chief controller for Aeronautics said in 2007, that India's combat drone would be a stealthy flying-wing concept aircraft with internal weapons and a turbofan engine.The UCAV's design is similar to Northrop Grumman's B-2 Spirit.

Description

The ADA describes the AURA as a "self-defending high-speed reconnaissance UAV with weapon firing capability". The first images released as part of a presentation shows the UAV as having a stealth design.[5] The AURA will cruise at medium altitude and will be capable of carrying two or more guided strike weapons with on-board sensors for targeting and weapon guidance. The flight control system and data link packages of Aura (unmanned combat aerial vehicle) will be designed and developed jointly by ADA and Defence Electronic Application Laboratory.[6]

DRDO's Chief Controller, R&D (aeronautics), Dr Prahlada said, "Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,001 feet and weighing less than 15 tonnes, the UCAVs will have rail-launching for the missiles, bombs and PGMs (precision-guided munitions) they will carry.". The DRDO is going to use a Kaveri engine to power this unmanned vehicle. The AURA will be approximately 15 tonnes aircraft with a range of 300+ km.

Specification

Range: 550 km

Altitude: 50,000 feet

Weight: 15+tons

Speed: 2.2+Mach

Engine: Kaveri

See also

References

  1. ↑ Aroor, Shiv. "Stealth bomber no longer a secret." India Today, 30 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "India to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicle". Ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  3. ↑ New Imagery Details Indian Aura UCAV July 16, 2012
  4. ↑ "India developing unmanned combat aerial vehicle". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  5. ↑ India joins bat-wing large UAV club (2010-06-18). "India joins bat-wing large UAV club". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  6. ↑ "We never had a single failure in 1,500 flights of Tejas: ADE - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-28.

External links