Context
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested Abhyas High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the Bay of Bengal coast in Odisha.
Key-points
- Designed and developed by: Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO.
- ADE is a leading Aeronautical Systems Design laboratory under the DRDO.
- It is involved in the construction and development of state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Aeronautical Systems and technologies to meet the needs of Indian Armed Forces.
- Features: Powered by a gas turbine engine to support a long-lasting aircraft at subsonic speed.
- Installed MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) -based Inertial Navigation System (INS) navigation and Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.
- The vehicle is designed for fully automatic aircraft and its check-out is performed using a laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).
- Utility: It will be used as a test target for various missile systems.
- It provides a realistic scenario that threatens the practice of weapons systems.
Other Recent Developments by DRDO
- In September 2021, the DRDO tested a new version of the Akash Missile – ‘Akash Prime’ – from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
- In July 2021, DRDO launched the Akash-NG (New Generation) and the Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).
- In June 2021 a new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-P (Prime) was successfully test-fired by the DRDO.
- In February 2021 India also successfully test-fired indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile systems ‘Helina’ and ‘Dhruvastra’.
- In October 2020, the DRDO conducted a successful flight test of the Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.
|
