Maiden flight of 'Panchi'

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday tested 'Panchi', which is the wheeled-version of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant capable of taking-off and landing using small airstrips.

The test flight, which lasted for around 20 minutes, was preceded by a series of high speed taxi trials.

DS and DG of Aeronautical Systems, Dr K Tamilmani, lauded the efforts of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) for developing 'Panchi'."Aggressive efforts by the ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment) team during the past eight months in creating this version are commendable," Tamilmani said.

The conventional UAV Nishant , already inducted into the Army is a multi-mission UAV with Day and 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 and localization, and artillery fire correction.

Once operational, Panchi will join the ranks of other proven wheeled UAVs from across the globe, including Searcher, Heron, Global Hawk and Predator, capable of the conventional takeoff and landing.