Rail Launcher
The 380 kg Nishant UAV requires rail-launching from a hydro-pneumatic launcher. Launches at a velocity of 45 m/sec are carried out in 0.6 seconds with 100 kW power and subsequent launches can be carried out in intervals of 20 minutes. The Mobile Hydro-Pneumatic Launcher (MHPL) system mounted on a Tatra truck weighs 14,000 kg and boasts of a life cycle of 1000 launches before requiring overhaul. Here is an example on display at Def Expo '04.
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