DRDO successfully conducts flight-test of High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘Abhyas’

In a major boost to India's defence prowess, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully conducted flight test of Indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas from Integrated Test Range of Odisha coast.

During flight trial, a High subsonic speed trajectory at a very low altitude with high endurance was demonstrated. DRDO said that two boosters provided initial acceleration during launch and a small turbojet engine was used to sustain high subsonic speed with long endurance. 

" indigenous data link designed by Bengaluru based Industry partner has been successfully flown and tested during flight. performance of system during entire flight duration has been confirmed from data captured by various Range instruments deployed," Ministry of Defence informed

indigenous unmanned aerial target system was developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (E), DRDO's Bengaluru based laboratory along with or DRDO laboratories to meet requirement of aerial targets of Indian Armed forced.

aircraft is controlled from ground using control and a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System along with Flight Control Computer computer which aids it follow pre-designated path in a fully autonomous mode. 

"Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said that successful test is noteworthy testimony of synergy between scientists and industry. Secretary DD R&D & chairman DRDO complimented scientists of laboratory, ir team members and associated industry partners for successful development efforts," Defence Ministry said.

India successfully tests short-range ballistic missile 'Pralay'

On Wednesday, India successfully test-fired 'Praolay, a short-range surface-to-surface-guided ballistic missile, off Odisha coast. solid-fuel, battlefield missile developed by DRDO is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from Indian ballistic missile programme. 

Praising DRDO for success, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Congratulations to @DRDO_India and associated teams for maiden development flight trial. My compliments to m for fast track development and successful launch of modern Surface-to-Surface Quasi Ballistic missile. It is a significant milestone achieved today."

Earlier this month, DRDO h successfully tested air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. On December 7, Indian Navy's indigenously designed and developed VL-SRSAM was successfully tested fired from a static vertical launcher off Odisha coast.