The Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) pilotless air vehicle Rustom-1 was test-flown for the second time since October last year, the organisation said.
Dr Prahlada, Chief Controller, Research and Development (Aeronautics Programmes), said Aeronautical Development Establishment, which is developing Rustom, was geared up to put payloads [such as bombs and superior surveillance devices] on the aircraft within the next three months to demonstrate their performance and the secure data-link to the defence services, its main users.
Saturday's flight lasted 14 hours and the aircraft touched 8,000 metres, a DRDO release said. The unmanned air vehicle was tested at the airfield of Taneja Aerospace at Hosur.
Rustom-1 is being developed with facilities for surveillance by the military or other users.