India Successfully Tests High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target Abhyas Off Odisha Coast

The target aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated low-altitude flight path, which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR.

Screengrab from video

New Delhi: India successfully tested the indigenously developed high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT), ABHYAS, on Wednesday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha, DRDO said in a statement. ABHYAS is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The target aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated low-altitude flight path, which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR, including radar and an electro-optical targeting system.

#DRDOforIndia | Strengthening indigenous capabilities, #ABHYAS-HEAT has been successfully flight tested from ITR today. The test demonstrated the performance at low altitude including sustained level & high manoeuvrability. #AtmanirbharDefence@DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/y6a3SBMAk3

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) June 29, 2022

"The performance of the aircraft at low altitude, including sustained level and high maneuverability, was demonstrated during the test flight," DRDO said in a statement.

ABHYAS -- a Sanskrit word for practice or preparatory exercise -- offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of various weapon systems. Designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, under development at ADE, ABHYAS also has RCS, visual and IR augmentation systems required  for weapon practice. 

"ABHYAS aircraft strengthens India's indigenous capabilities," DRDO tweeted.

Twin under-slung boosters were used to launch the air vehicle, giving it the initial acceleration. To maintain a long endurance flight at a high subsonic speed, it is powered by a small gas turbine engine.

"It also has a flight control computer for guidance and control along with a radio altimeter for very low-altitude flight and a data link for encrypted communication," the statement said. The target aircraft is equipped with a micro-electromechanical systems-based inertial navigation system.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the armed forces and the industry for the successful flight trial of ABHYAS, and said that the development of this system would meet the requirements of aerial targets.

DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy also praised the efforts of the teams associated with the design, development and testing of the system.