New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday conducted successfully flight test of 'Abhyas, a high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT), from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.
During the trials, two demonstrator vehicles were successfully test flown. The vehicle can be used as target for evaluation of various missile systems, the DRDO said in a statement here.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO for this feat.
'The DRDO achieved a milestone today with the successful flight test of ABHYAS - High Speed Expandable Aerial Target from ITR Balasore. This can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems. Congratulations to @DRDO_India & other stakeholders for this achievement,' Mr Singh posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Designed and developed by DRDOs Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Abhyas is launched using twin underslung boosters.
'It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation, along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control,' the statement added.
The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check-out of air vehicles is done, using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS), the DRDO said.
During the test campaign, the user requirement of five km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 mach, endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved.
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