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ABHYAS drone

Published: 17th May, 2019

Recently, DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from a test range in Odisha.

Context

Recently, DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS - High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from a test range in Odisha.

About

  • The trial was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore.
  • It was tracked by various radars and electro-optic systems and proved its performance in fully autonomous waypoint navigation mode.

ABHYAS drone

  • It is built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Armed Forces.
  • Abhyas is an evolution of an older Indian target drone, the Lakshya.
  • The first experimental launch (without the main engine) of the Abhyas was held at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in June 2012.
  • The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine and it uses indigenously developed micro-electromechanical systems-based (MEMS) navigation system.
  • The performance of the system was as per simulations carried out and it demonstrated the capability of 'Abhyas' to meet the mission requirement for a cost-effective HEAT.
  • 'Abhyas' is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot.
  • A Luneburg lens in the nose cone improves the radar cross-section of the target for weapons practice. It also has an acoustic miss distance indicator (AMDI) to indicate the missed distance.

Functions of ABHYAS

  • Abhyas's radar cross-section (RCS) as well as its visual and infrared signatures can be augmented to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defense weapon practices.
  • It can also function as a jammer platform and decoy.
  • The HEAT system is utilized to do away with the post-launch recovery mode, which is time-consuming and difficult in a scenario as the sea.
  • The Drone has a weather proof drop and vibration proof and a tactic load-tested dedicated box integrated with it that is used for transportation and storage purpose.
  • Target missiles and drones serve an important role in the development of a range of interceptors, including surface-to-air systems as well as cruise and ballistic missile defense systems. Abhyas is designed to simulate aircraft for endoatmospheric surface-to-air interception tests as well as air-to-air exercises.

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