Tag Archives: Rustom-II

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Rustom-II takes to skies as mystery over transfer of its project director continues

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By Pradip R. Sagar February 26, 2018 THE WEEK
Over a month after ‘unceremonious departure’ of the project director of Rustom-II drone A.P.V.S. Prasad, DRDO on Sunday carried out test flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Challakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.

After the test, DRDO came out with a statement that a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV was “successful”.

However, colleagues of Prasad—“scientist-G”who was made project director of the Rustom-II UAV programme of DRDO in 2015—are still curious to know the reason behind Prasad’s sudden transfer from the project, which he actually revived. Insiders claim that Prasad’s departure was linked to his objection to the lobby, which was pushing for a particular engine for the Rustom-II. Rustom was being developed with an Austrian engine, but a few people in the organisation wanted to replace it with the engine made by an Indian firm, despite the engine’s failure to meet the ‘technical parameters’ to be used in the UAV.

Sensing foul play, Scientists Association of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)—DRDO’s laboratory making the UAVs—has approached Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to look into the matter (copy of the letter is with The WEEK). Following the complaint, a discreet inquiry is being conducted by the intelligence agencies.

On January 16, 2018, DRDO’s headquarters issued an order for transfer of Prasad to an another DRDO lab on grounds of “public interest”. Incidentally, Prasad was honoured with the best scientist award in 2017.

According to the letter from the ADE association, Prasad, who was in the DRDO for over 30 years, was promoted as the programme director of coveted Rustom-II in 2015. He actually rejuvenating the project, which was lying in a pathetic condition, and within a year of taking over, he managed to carry out first test flight of Rustom-II, the letter reveals.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Manish Bhardwaj declined to comment on the issue saying “he was unaware of the internal developments”.

On Sunday, DRDO came out with a statement saying “DRDO successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere at Chitradurga. This flight assumes significance due to the fact that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine.”

Unarmed drone Rustom-II is being developed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, on the lines of Predator drone of the US forces.

According to the officials, Rustom-II is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads.

Drdo

Made in India Drones: India’s worst nightmare ??

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Published November 2, 2017 Indian Defence Research Wing
SOURCE: ABHOY ROY / FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG

India’s quest to develop Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) started in early 90’s when India’s ADE (Aeronautical Development Establishment), a branch of DRDO was tasked to develop India’s first Nishant UAV based on India Army’s requirement for intelligence gathering platform over enemy territory, which had its first flight in 1995.

Exactly after a decade later, Indian army’s fleet of four home-grown Nishant UAV had suffered crashes and all were lost prompting Army to cancel any future plans to place any further orders for the Nishant UAV.

DRDO second attempts to develop a Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned air vehicle began soon after around 2003 with the development of Rustom-1 design based on Rutan Long-EZ Homebuilt aircraft developed by American based Rutan Aircraft Factory.

Rustom-1 was supposed to be Technology Demonstrator platform upon which India had plans to develop a Larger UAV with a flight endurance of over 24 hours in Predator Class. Rustom-1 had its first flight in 2009 and soon there were reports that Indian Army and Indian Navy were interested in using them to replace older Israeli supplied Searcher reconnaissance UAVs.

But few years down the line both Indian Army and Indian Navy decided not to pursue the project any further due to the slow pace of development and lack of meaning full sensor package. Rustom-1 still remains a Technology Demonstrator platform for its larger sibling and there is little hope that it will ever make into full-scale production drone.

Tapas (BH-201 ) which was earlier known as Rustom-II made its first flight last year, but soon it was confirmed in media reports that the first prototype was soon pulled out of flight trials to address technical issues with the program. According to media reports, the first prototype was over-engineered and suffered from weight issues and required considerable re-engineering of turboprop engine section and to its wing section.

The second prototype of Tapas (BH-201 ) is still going through considerable weight reduction measures and is prepped for sensor and payload integration which has already seen delays its first flight planned for in mid of 2017.

DRDO in 2014 again tested for the first time Panchi which is a wheeled version of the Nishant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on Army’s recommendation but it is still unclear if Army has made any requirement for Panchi UAV and it might also risk of heading dead end like Nishant.

The only project which seems to have got a considerable level of acceptance in Indian armed forces is light-weight Netra Quadcopter which DRDO developed with Mumbai-based Idea Forge and Indian Eagle mini-drone developed by HAL, along with Suchan developed by NAL , but a great deal of MALE and HALE Class UAV programs like Nishant, Panchi, Rustom-1, and Tapas have seen considerable delays in the program and there is no clear deadline when they will enter into production .

Conclusion

India still has a combined tri-service requirement for the acquisition of 150 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs for which Request for Information already has been floated by India earlier this year But the Unfortunate truth is that India doesn’t only have troubles perfecting drone technology but is also facing serious delays in projects which are far from over and still continues to face a considerable amount of technological challenges that India is now risk falling behind countries in the region on drone technology.

A solution could be to encourage Private Defence companies in India to come with similar projects which can either help fast track this projects or help develop alternative platforms which can be used by our armed forces to truly make ” Make in India ” Initiative of PM Modi a Success.

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Rustom-II UAV to be tested in Chitradurga

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Kalyan Ray, New Delhi, Jul 11, 2016, DHNS
dh 11The first flight of India’s new combat-capable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Rustom-II is scheduled to be held by the end of July in Chitradurga test flight range.

Scientists at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) would move to the test range later this week for the trial as an window between July 28 and August 2 would be kept open for the flight in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Once ready, the medium-altitude, long-endurance (Male) UAV is likely to be an asset for the military not only for its surveillance capability, but also for its ability to be used as an unmanned armed combat vehicle in the line of the US’s Predator that New Delhi is interested to buy.

“Rustom-II is a very big platform with a range of 250 km. However, for the first flight we will be flying it up to a distance of 50-100 km,” said a source associated with the UAV’s development.

Compared to Rustom-I that was test flown for the first time in November 2009, Rustom-II will be having Electronic Intelligence, Communication Intelligence, Medium and Long-Range Electro-optic Payloads and Synthetic Aperture Radar that will enable it to see through the clouds.

“Rustom-I is a primitive vehicle with minimal capabilities. Rustom-II, on the other hand, has several capabilities, including the ability to carry weapons,” G Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri, told DH.

Once fully ready, Rustom UAVs are meant to replace Israeli Heron unmanned aerial vehicles being used by the air force and the navy. The aircraft is named after former Indian Institute of Science professor Rustom Damania, who pioneered aviation research in India in the 1980s.

Addressing a seminar on UAV in Delhi last November, an ADE official stated that the three services initially projected a requirement of 76 of these platforms.

However, like many other defence research and development organisation (DRDO) projects, Rustom-II is also facing time overrun as the production schedule, first fixed for 2016, has now been pushed to 2017 with the possibility that it may get further delayed.

The biggest challenge faced by the scientists is the excess weight of the airframe. The airframe had a weight of about 2,400 kg by 2015 end, which ADE scientists would have to bring down to about 1,700 kg in the final version for accommodating every sensor package.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd partners DRDO in the development of Rustom-II and has committed several hundred crores as financial support.

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Use/Misuse of positional power by Dr. K. Tamilmani and his staff

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To,                                                                        12 June 2015                                                             Dr.S Christopher,                                                                                                                                     DG, DRDO & Secretary DRD                                                                                                                 DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg,                                                                                                                 New Delhi-110105

Subject:  Use/Misuse of positional power by Dr. K. Tamilmani and his staff

Sir,

Following letter is received by website from Driver Association  seeks the misuse of manpower and vehicles in ADE.

As you are visiting ADE Bangalore in coming days, please do needful appropriate action for the sake of organisation and as well for misuse of poor tax payers money.

enclosed letter fully exposed the misuse of manpower and resources of ADE and GTRE. recently The New Indian Express also covered the article regarding misuse of project vehicles as staff car. The Vigilance Directorate send a letter to all labs/estt as their letter no DVS/02/2052/P/26 dated 25 May 2015. (copy enclosed) 

Interestingly, Bangalore  DRDO establishment don’t bother such letters or Honorable Supreme Court Order not to put red beacon on cars. Dr.K.Tamilmani using, GTRE, Project Vehicle Toyota Innova, Sh P. Sri Kumar,Director, ADE using Toyota Innova purchased in the name of Remote Video Terminal, four Toyota Innova purchased in RUSTOM-II and one vehicle mysteriously handover to Mr Shanker, IFA deputed in Bangalore. The Toyota Innova met with accident so it is requested to initiate through inquiry for the misusing staff and project vehicles.

 

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,                                                                                                                               21-Sunderwala, Raipur                                                                                                                       Dehradun-248008                                                                                                                               Email prabhudoo@gmail.com website- www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed:- Copy of letter received from Drivers Associationade input 2

ade input 3

ade input 1

 

 

 

 

Drdo

Review of development of Rustom-II Project

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To                                                                                                          9th April 2015                       Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar,                                                                                                   Defence Minister,Room No -104,                                                                                                   South Block,New Delhi-110011

Subject: Review of development of Rustom-II Project.

Sir,

It is very unfortunate that one of the senior most top clusters DG of DRDO, Dr K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) seems not serious about his responsibilities given by GOI.

As per news clippings and websites of private engineering colleges surrounding to his native place   it is observed that Dr.  K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) visited 6(six) private institutes during 15th January to 15th March on officials temporary duties.

It looking similar case of Silver Chariot and as per DRDO senior officials, it is come under CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) but one point that all are private institutes and second one all are near to Dr Tamilmani’s native place.

As per sources, he would have received his honorarium and transport allowance from the colleges also as well availed official TD.

The following are the colleges visited with dates and purpose:

  1. Bharathiyar Institute of Engineering for Women, Salem, 11th January 2015, as a Chief Guest for Graduation ceremony.
  2. Amrita University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, 28th  January 2015, to inaugurate automated test facility
  3. Aerospace Engineers, Salem, 7th February 2015, in the name of Technical Review but actual purpose of TD was attend the function of  Rabindranath Tagore College of Engg for Women
  4. Rabindranath Tagore College of Engineering for Women, Sankari, Salem, Tamilnadu, 7th February 2015, Address to students
  5. Excel College of Engineering, Salem, Tamilnadu, 22nd February 2015, to attend convocation ceremony as Chief Guest
  6. Arunai Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, 14th March 2015, to receive Life Time Achievement Award. (no information is available that whether permission obtained to receive this award from private institute)

Interesting fact is that all above five TD’s the Rustom – II project Toyota Innova was used but on sixth TD Dr.  K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) hired Taxi because the complaint of using project vehicle was submitted on 26th February 2015 to Prime Minister.

Dr.  K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) TD’s detail for your kind consideration, if you inquire the TD agenda vs output of each TD then you can judge the details of delay in Rustom – II and other ongoing projects.

Total working days 60 from 1st January to 31st March 2015. Total TD 45 daysTamilmani TD Details

In the light of above facts we request you to please restrict DRDO top scientists wasting poor tax payers money, Although in DRDO Hqrs TD business is drastically lower down after sacking of Sh Avinash Chander. Only comparing of Dr A K Singh’s DOP, DRDO TD details for last six month explained the scenario of DRDO.

Regards

Prabhu  Dandriyal,                                                                                                                           21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun – 248008                                                                             Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,                                                                               e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed – News Clippingslife time award Tamilmani

tamilmani Hindu 17 marchtamilmani Hindu 2 17 march

2015-02-23-Dinamalar tamilmani

 

businessLine

Arunai Engg College to mark Achievers Day

Our Bureau Chennai, March 10:  

Arunai Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai, will celebrate Achievers Day on March 15, according to a press release from the College.

It will give away Achievement Awards for outstanding contribution in various fields to mark the occasion. The awardees are: R Vijayashankar, Editor, Frontline, Chennai – for journalism; K Tamilmani, Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Aeronautical Systems) DRDO, Bengaluru – Science and Technology; Sunil Thomas Chandy, Director, CMC Vellore – Medicare; Rs. Sundar, Site Director, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Tirunelveli – nuclear energy; J Sam Daniel Stalin, Bureau Chief, NDTV, Chennai – Electronic media English; A Dhanasekaran, Senior Manager, Product Development, Ashok Leyland, Technical Centre, Chennai (an alumnus of Arunai Engineering).

The awards will be given away by K Venkatraman, former judge of the Madras High Court and President, State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Puducherry.

(This article was published on March 10, 2015)

tamilmani td private college

Excel college invitation card for yamilmanitamilmani td private college1

 

tamilmani bharathiyar

 

Drdo

RTI-PMO-GTRE -DRDO

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To                                                                                                                    Date – 9th April 2015 Shri Syed Ekram Rizwi,                                                                                                                   Director & Central Public Information Officer,                                                                         Prime Minister’s Office, South Block,                                                                                           New Delhi – 110011

Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of DRDO. It is observed that DRDO RTI cell is not providing any information in spite of providing corruption evidences.

Dr Tamilmani, DG(Aero), DRDO was used Rustom II project vehicle Toyota Innova  bearing No  # 14B 113597Y. The vehicle was procured for Project Rustom in the name of Remote Video Terminal Vehicle. Vide letter No DRDO/02/333/P/2/Vol-II-394/D/R&D date 23/02/2011.

After complaint to Hon Prime Minister on dated 26th February 2015, the vehicle returned to project premises ADE, Bangalore.

GTRE, Bangalore purchased two Toyota Innova vehicle against project one vehicle is using by Director, GTRE, Dr.CP Ramanarayanan,  surprisingly the another  Toyota Innova vehicle bearing no ↑15B 115897Y was provided on 11th March 2015 by GTRE, Bangalore to Dr Tamilmani, DG (Aero) against his demand dated 10th March 2015

  1. Provide the sanction letter of DHRD with financial concurrence of Ministry of Finance for purchasing two Toyota Innova vehicles by GTRE, Bangalore.
  2. As per DRDO transport policy the project vehicles should use dedicatedly for project work, provide the DRDO hqrs approval for transfer the vehicle to Dr Tamilmani.
  3. If Director, GTRE not obtained the permission for transferring the vehicle then provide the DRDO provisions for mishandling the project property without prior approval.
  4. Copy of letter of DG (Aero)/Sectt/TSO/1/018 dated 10 March 2015 addressed to Director, GTRE for transfer the vehicle.

Note: The matter is related with corruption allegation that misuse of government funds and mislead to government. The return of vehicle itself proves that DRDO officials are openly wasted the public funds for their enjoyment.

Enclosed: Photograph of Rustom II project vehicle Toyota Innova bearing No  ↑ 14B 113597Y with Brass Plate DG(Aero)

Regards

Prabhu  Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur,Dehradun -248008                                                                               Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,                                                                               e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Registration Number     PMOIN/R/2015/60878Rustom car as DG staff car

Drdo

DMC, DRDO 5th March 2015

2 Comments

To                                                                                                        Date 4th March 2015

Shri R K Mathur,

Defence Secretary & Defence R&D,

101-A, South Block,

New Delhi-110011

 

Subject: DRDO DMC

Sir,

Tomorrow you are going to chair DRDO DMC and it will be great experience for DRDO stalwart. After termination of contractual appoint of  Sh Avinash Chander, DRDO top management was really shocked and disturbed, not for national interest but due to shaking of their equations which they build with passage of time.

It was so sudden that they don’t have time to rebuilt equations; as a result day by day all dirt of DRDO coming out and DRDO management is in chaos.

  1. Silver chariot issue if common man see the Dr Dharamveer Gandhi , MP, AAP & Sh Hemant Tukaram Godse’s, MP, Shiv Sena  parliament question’s reply of Dr. Guruprasad, Director R&D E, Pune will certainly going to laugh and feel pity situation of DRDO’s scientific logics /caliber.
  2. DRDO management wrongly handled the case of Sh D Muthuraja, DRDO only titillated the ego of Dr. Guruprasad and agreed to throw scientist to ACME without work, result is matter with High court, Mumbai and not only countryman but whole laughed on this Silver chariot adventure. Till date no corrective measures are taken by DRDO, because money is flowing in DRDO.
  3. The case of promotion of Sc H and appointment as Director ASL of Ms Tessy Thomas and her husband Cmdr S K Patel’s tailor made appointment and then within few days giving him post of Director is one of suicidal attempts to derail the scientific tempo and created frustrations, result the Dr R K Gupta blow the trumpet.
  4. Dr Gausal Azam Khan, Sc D, (NRI quota) is victim of Dr Shashi Bala’s ego, he approached minority commission, now fighting case in CAT, Delhi and Tis Hazari, forgot all science, offshoot is Dr Mujamdar was transferred 3rd March 2015 and lot of other conspiracies are knitting around DIPAS which will be surfaced in few days.
  5. Dr A K Saxena, Director, DMSRDE, Kanpur don of lab did all manipulations in procurements, the evidences are sufficient, lay man can certify his acts & deeds but DRDO’s two fact finding committee have dare to make even small dent. In spite he kicked off two scientists from his kingdom with the help of harfunmoula Dr A K Singh, DOP who can go up to any extent because he believes that he is the resident of mother Teresa crescent road with ministers and MP’s.
  6. Tomorrow Dr K Tamilmani, DG (Aero) going to sit in your next being senior most DG. He is one of the big manipulator please find enclose two pay slips where he is drawing Transport allowances and same time using official vehicles which are procured by fooling the government procedure. In the name of project Rustom-II, Remote Video Terminal Vehicles DRDO got concurrence from Ministry of Finance and cheated the whole nation.
  7. Sir, God is given you chance to create history, please fix these corrupt official of DRDO who are daily cheating the nations and wasting the foreign exchange and as well as poor tax payer money. Sir, only few incompetent scientists are spoiling the DRDO, most are in extensions, some you can easily identify as they sitting in non scientific assignment for last 10 to 15 years but same time they got all outstanding promotions without doing science. The big examples of violation of FCS are Dr R K Jain, Director, RAC & Dr A K Singh, DOP rest you can see from the list of approx 7560 scientist

Sir, every day I am receiving lot of evidences of corrupt practices from all DRDO establishments and request you to kindly depute some agency who can analyze the   data/ evidences, so we can contribute to Honorable Prime Minister Modi ji’s mission of Swatch Bharat, corruption free India.

Regards
Prabhu Dandriyal, 21-Sunderwala, Raipur,

Dehradun-248008

Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,
e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com website www.corruptionindrdo.com

 

Dr Tamilmani movement order CEMILAC

Dr.K Tamilmani, DG (Aero), DRDO, Bangalore availing the transport allowance Rs 14490. Please see his January pay slip
Dr.K Tamilmani, DG (Aero), DRDO, Bangalore availing the transport allowance Rs 14490. Please see his January pay slip

Rustom car as DG staff car