Revealed for the first time here on LiveFist, India’s proposed unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being developed under what is called Programme AURA (Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft) and the prototype technology demonstrator being conceptualised goes by the working title Indian Unmanned Strike Aircraft (IUSA) or Indian Unmanned Strike Aircraft Programme (IUSAP). The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Agency (ADA) are currently conducting a feasibility study of two UCAV designs and expects to freeze a concept in 2011. The National Aeronautics Laboratory is also involved in the concept study of the IUSA. While the Nishant and Rustom UAVs have been publicly shown before, the Defence Ministry has asked ADA to keep the IUSAP classified and out of sight as far as possible. I’ve been told by sources that the first demonstrator is likely to be an all composite swept-wing model, though a lot of design elements haven’t been frozen just yet.
I WISH IT IS A LONG RANGE ROBOTIC UAV WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED FROM GROUND OR PROGRAMED TO CARRY OUT MISSION ON ITS ONE ONCE ACTIVATED OFCOURCE IT HAS TO BE NETWORK CENTRIC JUST A SUGGESION ALL THE BEST ADA
now this is what i call a scoop. any photos of the tech-dem or wind tunnel model? should be sweet:) do post more details please shiv along with pix if you can. india and a ucav?! i am proud to say the least. hope to see it flying across the loc soon. heh heh.
And where is the IAF participation in this project?… it seems that the IAF (like the army) are completely hands off from all these developmental projects which when they come to production stage, they then wake up and day it is not What they want….!!!!
ADA is still not yet successful with LCA, now they want to get a PhD without even completing +2 from Kendriya Vidyalaya.
AURA…wow!!!!..i think we should use this instead of IUSA…hope to see it soon.
@8:12 anonym
Yeah yeah, why dont you do it urself, instead of cursing ADA. Join ADA and change it. No, but you want MNCs job, thats why u wont. They have covered a long way in a/c development and LCA is just the beginning, we will go a long way.
Anon at 8:12
I'm a big supporter of the move towards indigenous. I think the LCA is a fantastic success story. Its contribution to our nation's knowledge on cutting edge aircraft design, integration,testing and manufacturing is immeasurable.
But I do agree that a UCAV sounds too ambitious for an agency whose only success story is the LCA.
This UCAV project has to be given funding worth millions or even a few billion dollars. ADA should be given the authority to hire people at obscene salaries, and they should be given all sorts of project support.
If not then we shouldnt be surprised if they come up with a model plane with a grenade slung underneath. There is no way you can successfully execute on something that the US is struggling with by saying, here take these 5 junior scientists and get a UCAV up and running within a 2 crore rupee budget.
Yawn! Tall promises as usual. Good luck India.
Shiv , there are so many topics on Indian defence programs that are not covered in Wikipedia ,since most of the world refers to Wikipedia,they would not come to know about all this.As you write all this on livefist,could you also please write the same thing in Wikipedia?
Also,if you have any list of ships of the Indian navy,could you please fill up the blank places in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ships_of_the_Indian_Navy ?
I am trying to do my best to fill as many facts as I can,but since I have no official sources,I do not want to write something that might not be right.
To, anonymous @ 8:12 am –
LCA is the 1st project of ADA & so after maturing of the whole design related to LCA, ADA is now confident to develop new design ( remember ADA did not develop the whole system of LCA,they are responsible only for it's design) & like any other design firm they will take little time(i bet they will take only 5-3 years) to cnmplete the full design of the UCAV,the next most challenging task for the Indian DPSU & PSU will be the completion of the whole new technology related to the proposed UCAV in time.
Just a single question. How many DECADES it will take for IOC?
let them finish Nishant UAV first which has been under testing for 16 years now.
there is no need to develop such aircraft at all , the existing Rustom program can be weaponised.
It's amazing!!
India issues global RFP to purchase microlight planes … and hopes to build Autonomous Unmanned Strike Aircraft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe ADA should scale down the LCA's airframe, make it stealthier, put a good engine and they can get a UCAV in no time.
This is fake news, for the simple reason, there is no "LIGHT" attached to the name of the aircraft.
I have full faith in Indian Engineers and Technocrats. AURA should be capable of hunting down infiltrating terrorists across LOC/ALOC and International border along western border so as to minimise the casualties on our side. If it happens so I would be the happiest person.
AK SIngh
I would like to exchange links with your site livefist.blogspot.com
Is this possible?