DRDO successfully flight tests ABHYAS, Know here what it is

• ABHYAS is High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)

• DRDO has successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha

• ABHYAS can be used as a target for evaluation of various missile systems

New Delhi/ Balasore: (India Defence News) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted a successful flight test of ABHYAS drone. Successful test of ABHYAS- High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) is a significant development as the drone can be used as a target for evaluation of various missile systems. The flight test of the vehicle was conducted from the Interim Test Range (ITR), Balasore in Odisha.

ABHYAS is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The vehicle has been designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO. The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung booster. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control. The check out of air vehicle is done using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO on the successful test of ABHYAS. "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" he tweeted.

"During the test campaign, the user requirement of 5 km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 MACH, the endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved," the Ministry of Defence said in a press release issued Tuesday afternoon.

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