"The aircraft was flown in a manner exactly as planned, up to a height of 3,000 feet (900 metres), remained airborne for 30 minutes and completed all mission requirements," Defence Research and Development Organisation spokesman Ravi Kumar Gupta said of Saturday's flight.

The drone, named Rustom, has a maximum flight time of 15 hours and is a prototype that the military intends to develop into more advanced models, officials said.

Israel, which in 2005 signed a 220-million dollar deal to sell 50 unmanned spy planes to India, remains one of the country's largest suppliers of drones.

India has accelerated military procurement, including the purchase of drones, since the 2008 attacks in Mumbai by Islamist gunmen which left 166 people dead and more than 300 injured.

The United States regularly uses drones based in Afghanistan to attack Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
UAV News - Suppliers and Technology

Turkey faces tough call on NATO missile shield Medvedev will attend NATO summit and talk missile defence US not pressing Turkey over NATO missile shield: Gates US presses allies on missile shield S. Korea probes faulty U.S. missiles Russian image tarnished over Iran missile deal: MP Russia to refund Iran over missile deal: arms export chief Russia to refund Iran over missile deal: arms export chief Boeing And iRobot Team Receives SUGV Contract From USAF Maiden flight for Indian military drone: official France eye Predator drones Six militants killed in US Pakistan drone strike: official Raytheon Reaches Milestone In Naval SATCOM Program Boeing Receives Secure Messaging Technology Contract Extension from US Army Indian army in communication system tender Military Terrestrial Satcom Market To Grow Slightly Northrop Grumman To Provide USAF Advanced LITENING Targeting Pods Elbit to upgrade Azeri tanks Raytheon Awarded Contract For Airborne Low Frequency Sonar Pentagon going green, because it has to Britain details major defense cuts Brazil's Embraer buys into BAE avionics US announces massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia UAE-Canada relations hit recent rocky patches China 'shocked' by Japan FM's comments as two sides meet Defence cuts spark questions on Britain's post-empire role France, Germany offer hand to Russia at seaside summit Germany's Merkel calls for closer ties between NATO, Russia Maritime Laser System Shows Higher Lethality At Longer Ranges Northrop Grumman To Increase Efficiency For Next-Gen Military Laser Technology Boeing Receives Task Order For Design Of Free Electron Laser Lab Demonstrator Lasers could protect helicopters from harm