DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat stated that his organization would design and develop an indigenous unmanned combat vehicle (UCAV) for surveillance activities as well the detection and destroying of the identified target. The project will be led by its Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), with private sector participation.

The ADE is also developing a medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE), codenamed Rustom. Its prototype, developed by Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd, however crashed in its first ever trial on November 16.1

• 1. ‘India to develop unmanned combat vehicle’, IBN Live, November 25, 2009 at http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-to-develop-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehic...