Throttle Aerospace Systems (TAS) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of RattanIndia Enterprises, has successfully delivered its nimble-i micro-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the Indian Army. The nimble-i was officially unveiled at the 4th Drone International Expo held in New Delhi from 26 to 27 July.
The development of nimble-i began in 2017, and it underwent flight tests in late 2018. After receiving an order to supply two nimble-i UAVs to the Indian Army, TAS delivered them in May 2023.
The nimble-i is a versatile micro-UAV powered by electric motors and features a multirotor design. Its primary purpose is to carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. The UAV is designed to serve both civilian and military needs, including tasks such as border surveillance, disaster management, and forest and wildfire monitoring.
The UAV’s design includes four detachable arms equipped with landing legs, each housing electric motors that power fixed-pitch two-bladed propellers. The central mast is attached to these arms and holds a three-axis gimballed electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) turret and a battery at the bottom. The electric motors enable the UAV to perform vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations.
Constructed using lightweight composites, the nimble-i has a maximum take-off weight of 2 kg and can carry a payload weighing up to 0.5 kg. It can communicate over a range of 5 km and has an endurance of 30 minutes. The UAV is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 12 m/s. For its operations, it relies on the Global Positioning System (GPS) or global navigation satellite services (GNSS).
The nimble-i UAV package includes a handheld controller and a display screen, making the system easily portable by hand. The UAV can be launched manually and recovered by hand, and it is capable of transmitting real-time video during its operations.
This advanced micro-UAV is expected to enhance the Indian Army’s intelligence-gathering capabilities and support various critical missions across the country.