India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully conducts an Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator. It was being operated in fully autonomous mode. The demonstrator is from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka.
An official statement read, “Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, waypoint navigation, and a smooth touchdown. This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies for the development of future unmanned aircraft and is a significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defense technologies.” It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The unmanned aerial vehicle is developed and designed by Aeronautical Development Establishment. Located in Bengaluru, it is a premier research laboratory of DRDO. The undercarriage, entire flight control, airframe, and avionics systems used in the aircraft were developed indigenously.
#DRDOUpdates | Successful Maiden Flight of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator@PMOIndia https://t.co/K2bsCRXaYp https://t.co/brHxaH7wbF pic.twitter.com/SbMnI5tgUM
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) July 1, 2022
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated and states that this will pace the country’s self-reliance in critical military systems. He said, ” It is a major achievement towards autonomous aircraft and will pave the way for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in terms of critical military systems,”
Congratulations to @DRDO_India on successful maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator from Chitradurga ATR.
It is a major achievement towards autonomous aircrafts which will pave the way for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in terms of critical military systems. pic.twitter.com/pQ4wAhA2ax
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) July 1, 2022
The Indigenous base of manufacturers is growing in India, and the drone industry in the country might play a crucial role. It could be instrumental in public services like defense, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure maintenance.
Autonomous drones
Drones are mini pilotless aircraft operated by remote control and can be accessed through simple devices like a smartphone app. These unmanned vehicles require far less effort, time, and energy, and can reach far and difficult terrains while being controlled by a single person remotely.
The UCAV is a precursor to the Ghatak armed stealth drone program called the Autonomous Unmanned Research Aircraft, or AURA. The ADE has described the AURA as a self-defending, high-speed, reconnaissance UAV with a weapons firing capability.
This secretive weapon system came to public notice in 2010 when the DRDO acknowledged the existence of the “Indian Unmanned Strike Aircraft” (IUSA), a drone built of lightweight composite materials and capable of delivering laser-guided strike weapons. It has been decided that the Kaveri engine, developed by the DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) would power the AURA. The Kaveri was developed for powering the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) but has not been able to develop the power needed for a supersonic fighter aircraft.
While non-stealth armed drones, such as the US-built Reaper and Predator, have taken a heavy toll of terrorist lives, the Indian Air Force will necessarily require stealth drones, such as the UCAV, to survive in highly contested air environments, such as over Pakistan.
