Indigenous VTOL UAV ‘Rudrastra’

On 11th June 2025, the Indian Army successfully completed trials of the Rudrastra hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV at Pokhran, Rajasthan.

The UAV is designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, target engagement, and terrain mapping in challenging battlefield environments.

What is Rudrastra?

Aspect	Details
UAV Type	A hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle.
Runway Requirement	Capable of taking off and landing vertically without a conventional runway.
Developer	Built by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
Operational Role	Designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, target engagement, and terrain mapping in difficult battlefield conditions.

Key Capabilities of Rudrastra UAV

Feature	Specification
VTOL Capability	Enables vertical take-off and landing without runway dependence.
Mission Radius	More than 50 km with stable real-time video transmission.
Total Operational Range	Exceeds 170 km, including loitering time.
Endurance	Approximately 1.5 hours per mission.
Navigation System	Equipped with an autonomous return-to-launch capability.

Strategic Importance

Area	Importance
Battlefield Surveillance	Provides real-time intelligence, reconnaissance, and terrain mapping in difficult operational zones.
Mobility Advantage	VTOL capability allows operations from confined or rugged terrain without runway infrastructure.
Indigenous Defence Technology	Supports India’s push towards indigenous drone and UAV development.
Hybrid Design	Combines vertical-lift flexibility with extended range and endurance advantages of fixed-wing UAVs.

PT Facts

VTOL: Means Vertical Take-Off and Landing.
VTOL UAVs: Do not need conventional runways for operation.
Pokhran: An important defence testing location in Rajasthan.
Hybrid UAVs: Combine vertical lift capability with fixed-wing range or endurance advantages.

Source:

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