DRDO conducts successful flight-test of indigenous aerial target ‘Abhyas’

Context

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the flight test of indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast in Odisha.

Key-Highlights of the flight test

• The aircraft is controlled from the ground using control and an indigenously developed MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System and a Flight Control Computer computer that helps it follow a pre-designated path in a fully autonomous mode. 
• The indigenous data link designed by a Bengaluru-based Industry partner was also successfully flown and tested during the flight. 
• The performance of the aircraft during its entire flight was confirmed by the data captured by various Range instruments.
• Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru based DRDO laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories has developed this indigenous unmanned aerial target system to meet the requirement of aerial targets of Indian Armed Forces.

What is Abhyas?

• Abhyas is a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) that is being built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO. 
• The first experimental launch of the aircraft was done in June 2012 without the main engine.
• The gas turbine engine was later identified and integrated on the Abhyas airframe. 
• The HEAT Abhyas project was sanctioned with initial funding of Rs 15 crores.
• HAL secured an order for manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing and supply of DRDO Abhyas from ADE.
• The Abhyas aircraft is launched from a mobile launcher with the help of two 68 mm booster rockets.

Benefit

• Abhyas's radar cross-section (RCS) and its visual and infrared signatures can be boosted to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defense weapon practices. 
• Abhyas is also GPS-enabled and has an onboard flight control computer and a miss-distance indicator.
• The aircraft is designed for autonomous flight with the help of an autopilot.