India successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS — high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) vehicles — from a test range in Odisha.

The trial, carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore, was tracked by various radars and electro-optic systems. 

ABHYAS can be used as a target for evaluation of missile systems. It has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the DRDO.

This is the second time that the target vehicle was flight-tested successfully. It was first flight-tested on May 13, 2019.

Highlights of the test:

During the test on September 22, two demonstrator vehicles were successfully test-flown.

The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung boosters. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has an Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with a Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.

The vehicle has been programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check out of the vehicle is done using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).

During the test campaign, the user requirement of 5 km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 mach, endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved.

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