DRDO Kapothaka
Kapothaka was a technology demonstrator mini-UAV for reconnaissance.
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The DRDO Kapothaka (also spelled Kapothaha), meaning 'dove,' was a technology demonstrator mini-UAV developed for reconnaissance. It is believed to be a predecessor of the Nishant UAV system, serving as a foundational platform for indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle development in India.
Background
Following the successful deployment of a remotely piloted vehicle by Israel during the Lebanon war in 1982, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) undertook the development of a remotely piloted vehicle, Kapothaka, in 1983 to develop necessary technologies. Over the next four years, ADE developed a small RPV to validate in-flight video transmission capabilities and to implement ground takeoff and parachute recovery.
The Kapothaka had an all-up-weight of 130 kg and was powered by a conventional twin-boom configuration with a 26 bhp piston engine. It featured a very small, low radar cross-section and was launched from a rail with rocket assistance. The integral wing-boom-tail unit was made of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), while the fuselage was a combination of aluminium and GFRP. The aircraft carried TV and panoramic cameras, providing real-time imagery intelligence.
The programme enabled ADE to cut its teeth on the intricacies of UAV design, development, and deployment. The endeavour culminated in a successful demonstration of aerial reconnaissance using an RPV during Operation Brasstacks in September 1987.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: DRDO Kapothaka (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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