India may soon get its own UAV: HAL chairman

BENGALURU - India is likely to come out with its indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the coming two to three years, a top official of the country’s only aircraft manufacturing company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has said.

Talking to media persons on the margins of the inaugural test launch of the Light Combat Helicopter, HAL chairman Ashok Nayak disclosed that work is on for developing India’s very own UAVs.

“There are some projects going on in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO),” Nayak said.

“May be after two to three years, the HAL might come out with India’s own UAV. We have already developed one, Lakshya, but it was on a smaller scale. Now, we are developing the Lakshya’s MAK-II,” he said.

Nayak added that the Lakshya’s MAK-II would be used for ‘air to air practice’, and pointed out that it will not be used for combat or surveillance purposes.

Expressing immense pleasure at the successful test flight of the LCH, which has been developed by the HAL itself, Nayak described it as a very important achievement.

Responding to a question about the time by which the LCH is likely to be ready for induction in the armed forces, Nayak said it would take at least two years.

“It will take 500 flights, two years to get operational clearance, and all the weapon and ammunition system would be tested and after that it would be inducted in the airforce. We strongly believe it’ll be inducted in the India Army also. By Shashank Shantanu (ANI)