Rustom-2, which crashed in Karnataka recently, was a/an

Rustom-2, also known as TAPAS BH-201, is an indigenous Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) [1]. It is designed for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, with potential for future combat capabilities. The aircraft is a remotely-piloted platform intended for use by the Indian Armed Forces [1]. In September 2019, the sixth prototype (AF-6) of Rustom-2 crashed in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka during a test flight. The crash occurred near the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) due to a link loss with the ground station combined with severe turbulence. Unlike traditional fighter aircraft or helicopters, Rustom-2 operates as a drone, providing long-endurance aerial surveillance beyond the horizon [1].

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAPAS-BH-201