India has just introduced a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model named CHEEL, developed to serve long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
A notable point of this platform is its vertical take-off and landing capability (VTOL), along with a multi-engine design that can be flexibly replaced according to operating needs.
CHEEL is developed by Indian defense technology company Dynauton Systems, has an operating range of up to 100 km and the ability to fly at a maximum altitude of about 5,000 m.
This UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 80 kg, a body length of about 5 m and a wingspan of 3.4 m.
According to the developer, CHEEL is designed for extended ISR missions with continuous operating hours up to 6 hours. The aircraft can operate in harsh temperature conditions from -20 to 45 degrees Celsius, suitable for many different deployment environments.
Regarding the sensor system, the UAV is equipped with a 30x optical zoom daytime camera, a medium wavelength infrared sensor (MWIR) and a laser rangefinder.
These devices allow CHEEL to perform the task of monitoring, tracking targets and collecting data in various weather or lighting conditions.
One of the highlights of CHEEL is its VTOL capability, allowing UAVs to operate in narrow or unprepared areas such as decks, mountainous areas or urban environments.
This helps reduce dependence on traditional runways and increase mobility when deploying on the ground.
Dynauton Systems also said that CHEEL is designed to reduce radar signals and noise, and has the ability to withstand noise at a certain level against threats of electronic warfare.
This UAV uses the Orbital 150 heavy-fuel engine of Orbital UAV (Australia). This is a two-stroke 150cc engine, compatible with JP-8 fuel and diesel, helping to increase operating capabilities in military environments.
In addition to specifications, the multi-engine structure is considered a major difference of CHEEL. This design allows integration of engine systems from various manufacturers in Europe, Australia or India.
According to Dynauton Systems, this approach helps UAVs easily adapt to each customer's own operating requirements, while supporting compliance with export control regulations in many international markets.
The development of CHEEL shows India's growing ambition in the field of military UAVs and ISR technology, as this country is promoting domestic platforms that are competitive in the international market.
