India has issued a request for information for a small-sized vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle.
According to the Indian air force's request, the requirement is for a battery- or fuel-operated UAV that weighs less than 10kg (22lb) and has an endurance of over 60min.
The UAV will perform intelligence, search and reconnaissance missions. Mission payloads should include cameras, forward-looking infrared and laser spotters and rangefinders. The RFI also specifies that the UAV be capable of hovering and operating in urban environments.
The system should come with portable, lightweight ground stations and datalink terminals.
The RFI is for "a simple design such as a personal computer-based ground control station capable of handling the UAV telemetry information, mission display image processing, detection and transmission of information pertaining to all payloads", the air force says.
It also calls for the "facility to integrate with other HQ/control stations" and a datalink range of "not less than 10km [5.4nm]".
Source: Flight International
