[SatNews] After completing successful flight trials in Rajasthan, Indian Army recently took delivery of four indigenously designed and developed ''Nishant'' Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

To be used for battle-field reconnaissance in both dayand night, surveillance, target tracking and correction ofartillery fire, the DRDO-developed UAV can also be used for anti-insurgency operations. The electro optical, electronic intelligence and communication intelligence payload on-board the UAV make itsuitable for a range of operations both during wartime andcounter insurgency operations, they said. The Nishant is capable of being launched from a hydropneumatic launcher, without the need of a runway. The UAV canbe controlled by ''Ground Control Systems'' mounted on Tatravehicles, DRDO distinguished scientist Prahlada said.

With an endurance level of four and a half hours, Nishant is designed for safe recovery from a desired place with the help of parachutes. Nishant has been designed and developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), which specializes in developing UAVs, flight control systems andsimulators in association with other labs.