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INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE
THE EVOLVING FIELD GUIDE
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DEFENCE DRONES / THE LIBRARY

Compare the evidence.

Choose up to three systems. Specifications retain their source and configuration; missing information is left undisclosed.

DRDO Panchi

The wheeled take-off-and-landing derivative of Nishant, with flight testing recorded by DRDO.

Country / region
India
Programme status
Development / trials
Sources reviewed
21 Sept 2026
Development / trialsDevelopment / trials
Primary domain
Air
System type
Reconnaissance aircraft
Developer / manufacturer
DRDO / Aeronautical Development Establishment
Origin / production countries
India
Other names
Panchhi
Variants / configurations
Not distinguished in reviewed sources
Operators / programme customers
Not identified in reviewed sources

Evidence & current status

Developer-reported flight count is undated on the product page. No current service acceptance was established.

Role & capabilities

  • Runway operations
  • Electro-optical reconnaissance
  • Autonomous flight development

Specifications in context

Airframe
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Launch / recovery
Conventional wheeled take-off and landing

Supplier baseline; performance depends on payload and conditions.

Source ↗
Propulsion
Wankel rotary engine

Supplier baseline; performance depends on payload and conditions.

Source ↗
Dimensions
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Mass
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Endurance
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Range
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Speed
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Altitude
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Payload
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗
Sensors
Electro-optical observation equipment

Supplier baseline; performance depends on payload and conditions.

Source ↗
Communications / navigation
Not established in the reviewed public sources.

Public evidence gap. No estimate or neighbouring variant value has been substituted.

Source ↗