The Challenge

Subscale aircraft provide a fast path from concept to physical evidence—but only when design, fabrication, integration, and flight test operate as one continuous engineering loop.

At DRDO RCI/DYSL, I worked across three concurrent UAS programs, progressing aircraft from subscale builds toward full-scale prototypes and flight validation under demanding schedule and resource constraints.

Design → Build → Fly

My work spanned the complete prototype-development cycle:

• fixed-wing, multirotor, and hybrid eVTOL configurations

• subscale-to-full-scale prototype development

• propulsion, avionics, and payload integration

• system checkout and troubleshooting

• carbon-fiber layups and vacuum bagging

• CNC foam-core milling

• 3D-printed prototype components

• rapid configuration changes

• ground and flight-test execution

Flight Test & Iteration

I planned and managed 100+ iterative test campaigns, using structured test briefs, post-flight debriefs, anomaly investigation, root-cause analysis, and corrective action to feed flight-test evidence directly back into the next aircraft configuration.

What It Taught Me

The value of a subscale prototype isn't simply that it flies.

It is how quickly it exposes uncertainty, retires technical risk, and improves the next design.

Design → Build → Integrate → Test → Diagnose → Modify → Re-Fly

Impact

3 UAS development programs
100+ ground & flight-test campaigns
Fixed-Wing · Multirotor · Hybrid eVTOL
Subscale → Full-Scale Development