DRDO Successfully Testfires ABHYAS

India as a nation has progressed in various fields over the years. We are very well aware of how we are moving ahead in terms of technology, and development in the corporate world. It’s about time we focussed on the country’s achievements in the defence sector.

The full form of DRDO is Defence Research and Development Development Organisation. Defence Research and Development Development Organisation of India is the largest and one of the most diverse organisations in the country.

DRDO was formed by the coming together of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the ordnance factories of the country with the Defence Science Organisation in 1958.

This article focuses on the successful flight testing of the HEAT ABHYAS drone on 22nd September 2020 in Odisha. It also discusses the features of the drone and explains how the DRDO was formed.

DRDO

Defence Research and Development Development Organisation of India abbreviated as DRDO is an agency under the Ministry of Defence of India. It is responsible for the military’s research and development work and is headquartered in Delhi. 

DRDO has a huge network including over 300 laboratories which are now performing work related to the development of defence technology ranging from aeronautics, electronics, armaments, missiles, and naval systems. Defence Research and Development Development Organisation of India is the largest and one of the most diverse organisations in the country. 

DRDO has manpower of over five thousand scientists belonging to the Defence Research and Development Services and about twenty-five thousand other subordinate supporting personnel helping in the scientific and electronic developments.

DRDO was formed by the coming together of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the ordnance factories of the country with the Defence Science Organisation in 1958.

Shortly after in 1979 the Defence Research and Development Service was constituted and the service of Group A officers or scientists directly came under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

ABHYAS HEAT

Abhyas is a HEAT (High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target) drone. Its proof of concept was completed in the year 2013 by the month of January. After the success of the first test launch in 2012 without the main turbojet engine, performed to check the capability of Abhyas’s launch and configuration capability. The project received a grant of 15 crore rupees from DRDO. After this 15 demonstrators were to be made to simply carry out the technological capabilities by 2015.

After the acceptance of the prototypes or technological demonstrators by the Indian Armed Forces, production started. Abhyas could be seen as a potential aerial target drone. 

Successful Flight Test

DRDO conducted a successful test flight of HEAT (High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target) Abhyas in Odisha on 22nd September 2020. This test had some pre-set parameters that ABHYAS had to fulfil and two demonstrator drones were test flown the day. The parameters included flying at a 5-kilometre altitude, a speed of 0.5 matches, a 2G turn and an endurance of 30 minutes.

ABHYAS HEAT passed the parameters of evaluation with flying colours. The design of the drone is such that it has a storage container made out of expanded polyethene (EPE) and Cross-linked polyethene foam material inside it. These materials make weather, drop, vibration proof and static load tests.

The magnificent made in India, pilotless aerial target system has been manufactured and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) based in Bangalore. DRDO laboratories of other locations also supported its development and made sure that the demonstrator met the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.

Conclusion

The successful flight test of ABHYAS HEAT on 22nd September 2020 in Odisha proved to be a wonderful achievement for the Nations defence systems including the Indian armed forces and other defence organisations.

The drone demonstrator passed all the required parameters set by the Indian Armed Forces and shows a wonderful capability for usage by the Defence of the nation.