Defexpo 2022: Aero360 delivers UAV to DRDO for mine detection

Aero360 has delivered one unit of its Bhima multicopter UAV (pictured) to the DRDO to support mine detection operations. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)

Chennai-based Aero360 has delivered a multicopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for detection of landmines, A Pragadish Santhosh, director of Aero360, told Janes at Defexpo 2022, being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from 18 to 22 October.

One unit of this UAV, named Bhima, was delivered to the DRDO in Jodhpur in September, Santhosh said.

The DRDO has integrated a 7 kg synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with the UAV for landmine detection, Santhosh added.

Bhima has a maximum take-off weight of 23 kg, a cruising speed of 10 m/s, a maximum flying speed of 15 m/s, and a payload capacity of 5–10 kg.

Bhima can fly for 30 minutes with 10 kg of payload and has an endurance of more than 45 minutes when carrying less than 5 kg of payload.

Aero360 completed the development of Bhima in December 2021.

Aero360 has also supplied one unit of its Vajra quadcopter to the Indian Army in Jhansi in April for surveillance operations, Santhosh told Janes .

“The Indian Army required a surveillance UAV, which could carry both a 10x zoom camera and a thermal camera of 640 pixels. Vajra catered to these requirements, and soon after a demo, we [Aero30] received an order from the Indian Army,” Santhosh said.

Santhosh said Vajra has an endurance of 45 minutes when carrying a surveillance payload such as a thermal camera or a 10x optical zoom camera.