New Delhi: In a boost to nation’s missile technology, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested various systems of Abhyas, its high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT).

The vehicle can be used as an aerial target for evaluation of various missile systems. The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha.

During the trial, the target was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated flight path at subsonic speed. The test flight demonstrated low altitude flight capability with radio altimeter in loop, a media report said. IR flares were ignited from the ground station during the test flight. According to the sources, the performance of the target aircraft was monitored through telemetry and various sensors and also included radars and electro optical tracking systems (EOTS).

Abhyas is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT), designed and developed at Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) under DRDO. According to information shared by DRDO, it offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems. Abhyas is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, under development at ADE. Abhyas has RCS, visual and IR augmentation systems required for weapon practice.