March 04, 2013: With the Rustom-1 firmly in flight test towards proving itself as a tactical surveillance drone, the higher performance Rustom-H long-endurance surveillance platform is now close to being ready for a first flight. The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) that is developing the platform is looking at February 2014 time frame for a first flight from the Taneja Aerospace airstrip outside Bangalore.

The Rustom-H is to be built in two variants, a basic surveillance version and an armed strike version with capabilities comparable to the US MQ-1 Predator. According to reports, a prototype Rustom-H could begin ground testing and ground systems checks in August this year. The Rustom-H will sport an integrated C-band data link (2 wide ban and 1 narrow band) along with SATCOM. Its intended payloads include stabilised EO, SAR, MPR, long-range EO, ELINT and COMINT. In the strike role, it will be capable of deploying PGMs, including an intended modification of the HELINA anti-armour weapon into an extended-range strike weapon with a range of about 15 km.