National

DRDO's autonomous plane's maiden flight 'successful'

author-image
NewsDrum Desk
Updated On
New Update
Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator being flight tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Aeronautical Test Range, in Chitradurga

Bengaluru: The Defence Research and Development Organisation on Friday successfully carried out the maiden flight at Chitradurga in Karnataka.

Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight and a smooth touchdown, an official press release said.

The flight marked a major milestone in proving critical technologies towards development of future unmanned aircraft and is a significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defence technologies, the statement read.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO, the statement said.

“It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were indigenously developed,” according to the press release.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, the statement.

It is a major achievement towards autonomous aircraft and would pave the way for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in terms of critical military systems, Singh was quoted as saying.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Karnataka DRDo small turbofan engine Aeronautical Development Establishment Chitradurga DRDO news Unmanned plane developed by DRDO Drone developed by DRDO unmanned drone unmanned plane Unmanned Flight unmanned aircraft UAV unmanned aerial vehicle maiden flight Defence Research and Development Organisation Defence technology Bengaluru Atmanirbhar Bharat