DRDO's TAPAS unmanned aerial vehicle crashes in Karnataka village fields: Report

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) experienced a crash in a Karnataka village's agricultural fields on Sunday, reports the news agency PTI.

The UAV, identified as TAPAS 07 A-14, descended outside Vaddikere village in Hiriyur taluk during a test flight, the report added.

Following the loud crash, villagers gathered at the crash site and the local authorities were notified. Videos and images show that the UAV is totally broken with its equipment inside scattered on the field.

"A Tapas drone being developed by the DRDO crashed during a trial flight in a village of Chitradurga district, Karnataka," Defence officials told ANI.

"DRDO is briefing the Defence Ministry about the mishap and an inquiry is being carried out into the specific reasons behind the crash," they said.

DRDO's Made in India UAV TAPAS | 5 points

• TAPAS-BH UAV, short for Tactical Aerial Platform for Advanced Surveillance - Beyond Horizon, represents an indigenous medium altitude long endurance class unmanned aerial vehicle.

• It made its inaugural flight appearance during the Aero India air show and aviation display 2023. The event showcased its capabilities through both static and aerial demonstrations.

• TAPAS is the DRDO's solution to address the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) requirements of the armed forces.

• With a flight endurance of over 18 hours, the UAV can operate at altitudes reaching 28,000 feet.

• TAPAS, previously referred to as Rustom-II, is designed to operate autonomously or under remote control based on pre-programmed flight plans. This versatility enables its operation during both daylight and nighttime conditions.