DRDO successfully conducts final test of ABHYAS system at Chandipur

The  Defence Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on 27 June 2024. According to the DRDO the ABHYAS  system has successfully conducted 10 developmental flights, demonstrating the reliability of the system. With the final successful testing of the ABHYAS system, it is now ready for production and induction in the Indian armed forces.

In the test conducted on 27 June DRDO tested the newly improved Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation  undertaken in the ABHYAS system. The tests validated the system performance in the field of safe release of booster, launcher clearance, endurance  and performance.

ABHYAS System 

ABHYAS is a drone which has been designed for the armed forces for target practice.

It is an aerial vehicle which will be used as dummy enemy aerial vehicles .The Indian armed forces will hone their skill in shooting down an hostile aerial target by using ABHYAS as a dummy.

It can be controlled through a laptop top at the ground. It offers a realistic war like scenario for the armed forces to practice their weapon system .

The DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, has designed the ABHYAS system. It is being produced by the public sector undertaking the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the private sector company Larsen & Toubro. 

The booster  of the ABHYAS has been designed by the DRDO’s  Advanced Systems Laboratory and its navigation system has been designed by DRDO’s  Research Centre Imarat laboratory in Hyderabad.. 

The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO, Armed Forces and the Indian Industry associated with the successful developmental trials of ‘ABHYAS’. 

Dr Samir V Kamat,​Secretary, the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO also  congratulated the teams associated with the successful flight trial.

This is a second consecutive success of the DRDO. On 26 June, at a function held in New Delhi, the DRDO handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) developed by the Jodhpur Laboratory of the DRDO to the Indian Navy.