DRDO’s ABHYAS Completes Successful Trials in Odisha

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of the High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ at the integrated test range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. These trials mark a significant milestone, bringing the total number of successful trials to ten and demonstrating the system’s reliability.

The recent trials featured improved Radar Cross Section (RCS), Visual, and Infrared (IR) augmentation systems. Various mission objectives, including the safe release of boosters, launcher clearance, and endurance performance, were successfully validated. Notably, two launches were conducted within a thirty-minute gap, showcasing the system’s ease of operation with minimal logistics.

Representatives from the Services witnessed the flight trials. ABHYAS, designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), offers a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice. It is designed for autonomous flying with an autopilot and a laptop-based Ground Control System (GCS) for aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and autonomous flight. The system also records data during flight for post-flight analysis.

The booster for ABHYAS was designed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), and the navigation system was developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI). With identified production agencies, ABHYAS is now ready for production.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the industry for the successful developmental trials of ABHYAS, highlighting the synergy between scientists and industry. The Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO also congratulated the teams involved, noting that the system is cost-effective with significant export potential.