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India pulls plug on Nishant UAV

18th November 2015 - 03:41 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

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In a blow to Indian efforts to field indigenously developed tactical UAVs, the Indian Army is abandoning the two-decade-old Nishant.

Phase 1 of the Nishant programme saw four aircraft delivered to the army in 2011 after long delays, but three of these have since been lost in crashes. The most recent accident occurred in Rajasthan on 4 November.

The Indian Army has cancelled phase 2, which would have seen a further eight UAVs and two ground control stations inducted. The programme was initiated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), back in 1995.

Something of a blame game

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Author

Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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