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Source-- Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: EXPRESS EXCLUSIVE: DRDO developing high-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT) drone Abhyas | Younger brother of Lakshya, ADE plans 15 TDs of Abhyas in next 2 years.
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Bangalore: Abhyas, a high-speed expendable
aerial target (HEAT) drone, is taking definite shape
at the hangars of Aeronautical Development
Establishment (ADE). The scientists are now
working on the propulsion and control systems
to be fitted onboard Abyas, taking the project
closer to it's final configuration. Kept under wraps
till Aero India-2013, Abhyas is tipped as the
younger brother of Lakshya, a pilot-less target
aircraft (PTA), now being extensively used by the
three wings of Services.
In an interview to Express, ADE director P S
Krishnan confirmed that Abhyas has already
undergone a proof of the concept, pre-project
trial at the Defence Research and Development
Organisation's new test-range in Chitradurga.
"The first experimental launch (minus the engine)
of Abhyas was held last year at the Chitradurga
range. It was the first ground-based trial held at
the new range. We are now working on a small
gas turbine engine weighing 19 kg having a thrust
of 25 kg to be fitted on to Abhyas," Krishnan said.
He said in order to put the project on a fast-track,
ADE scientists have used the the same toe-body
of Lakshya. "We have sized the wings and tail
plane in proportionate to that of Lakshya so that
we are able to get the final product at the earliest.
We have conceived a launcher and also identified
two 68-mm rockets for Abhyas. The first
experimental flight successfully demonstrated the
launch and configuration capabilities," Krishnan
said.
With an endurance of 25-30 minutes, Abhyas will
be fitted with sensors and is GPS-enabled. It will
have onboard actuators, a flight control computer
and a miss-distance indicator. The project was
sanctioned with an initial DRDO funding of Rs 15
crore and ADE will roll out 15 Abhyas technology
demonstrators (TDs) in the next two years.
The Services have floated a combined global
tender projecting the requirement of 225 HEAT
drones and ADE says it will not be bidding for the
same. The Indian Navy wants HEAT platforms so
that it can do away with the post-launch recovery
modes, which are time-consuming and difficult in
a huge scenario like the sea. "In addition to being
a stable vehicle for weapon practice, Abhyas can
be used as an effective jammer platform. Every
bit of onboard systems come for Indian
industries, which makes Project Abhyas special in
many ways. ," Krishnan said.
He said ADE is confident of getting Abyas straight
away on to the production mode, once the TDs
are accepted by the Services. Around 50
scientists are working on Project Abhyas at ADE
now. In the HEAT vehicle category, the Mirach
integrated aerial variants from Italy are said to be
the best in the business now, and only time will
tell whether India's Abhya will better its might.
.
.
Bangalore: Abhyas, a high-speed expendable
aerial target (HEAT) drone, is taking definite shape
at the hangars of Aeronautical Development
Establishment (ADE). The scientists are now
working on the propulsion and control systems
to be fitted onboard Abyas, taking the project
closer to it's final configuration. Kept under wraps
till Aero India-2013, Abhyas is tipped as the
younger brother of Lakshya, a pilot-less target
aircraft (PTA), now being extensively used by the
three wings of Services.
In an interview to Express, ADE director P S
Krishnan confirmed that Abhyas has already
undergone a proof of the concept, pre-project
trial at the Defence Research and Development
Organisation's new test-range in Chitradurga.
"The first experimental launch (minus the engine)
of Abhyas was held last year at the Chitradurga
range. It was the first ground-based trial held at
the new range. We are now working on a small
gas turbine engine weighing 19 kg having a thrust
of 25 kg to be fitted on to Abhyas," Krishnan said.
He said in order to put the project on a fast-track,
ADE scientists have used the the same toe-body
of Lakshya. "We have sized the wings and tail
plane in proportionate to that of Lakshya so that
we are able to get the final product at the earliest.
We have conceived a launcher and also identified
two 68-mm rockets for Abhyas. The first
experimental flight successfully demonstrated the
launch and configuration capabilities," Krishnan
said.
With an endurance of 25-30 minutes, Abhyas will
be fitted with sensors and is GPS-enabled. It will
have onboard actuators, a flight control computer
and a miss-distance indicator. The project was
sanctioned with an initial DRDO funding of Rs 15
crore and ADE will roll out 15 Abhyas technology
demonstrators (TDs) in the next two years.
The Services have floated a combined global
tender projecting the requirement of 225 HEAT
drones and ADE says it will not be bidding for the
same. The Indian Navy wants HEAT platforms so
that it can do away with the post-launch recovery
modes, which are time-consuming and difficult in
a huge scenario like the sea. "In addition to being
a stable vehicle for weapon practice, Abhyas can
be used as an effective jammer platform. Every
bit of onboard systems come for Indian
industries, which makes Project Abhyas special in
many ways. ," Krishnan said.
He said ADE is confident of getting Abyas straight
away on to the production mode, once the TDs
are accepted by the Services. Around 50
scientists are working on Project Abhyas at ADE
now. In the HEAT vehicle category, the Mirach
integrated aerial variants from Italy are said to be
the best in the business now, and only time will
tell whether India's Abhya will better its might.
