DRDO carries out maiden flight of unmanned combat aircraft

Tags: Defence Science and Technology

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator from the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka on July 1.

• The aircraft performed a complete flight, including take-off, way point navigation and touchdown.

• The flight was conducted in a fully autonomous mode.

• It is designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a premier research laboratory under the DRDO.

• The unmanned fighter aircraft is powered by a small, turbofan engine.

• The vehicle's airframe, as well as its undercarriage, flight control and avionics systems, were indigenously developed.

• The program is associated with the development of India's fifth generation stealth fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or AMCA.

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

• It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

• It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.

• It was set up in 1958.

• Headquarters - New Delhi 

• Chairman - G. Satheesh Reddy