New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) 'Abhyas' on Thursday from Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.


A high subsonic speed trajectory at a very low altitude with high endurance was demonstrated during the flight trial.


According to reports, the two boosters provided initial acceleration during the launch and a small turbojet engine has been used to sustain high subsonic speed with long endurance.






The indigenous data link designed by Bengaluru based Industry partner has been successfully flown and tested during the flight, DRDO said in an official release.


The indigenous unmanned aerial target system Abhyas has been developed to meet the requirement of aerial targets of the Indian Armed Forces. 


"The aircraft is controlled from a ground-based controller and an indigenously developed MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System along with the Flight Control Computer which helps it to follow the pre-designated path in a fully autonomous mode," DRDO statement read. 


Reacting to the development, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the successful test is noteworthy testimony of synergy between scientists and industry. 


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The successful flight test of Heat Abhyas come hours after the DRDO conducted the second flight test of indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay' off the Odisha coast earlier in the day.


India had on Wednesday successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the missile.


"For the first time, flight tests of a ballistic missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, have been conducted successfully in two consecutive days," the DRDO said.


Powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and other new technologies, the Pralay missile has a target range of 150 to 500 km. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.