BENGALURU: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated the flight trial of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, an indigenous high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), in Karnataka’s Chitradurga.
The successful trial places the country among an elite club of nations possessing the technology to produce such a platform.
The successful flying demonstration of this autonomous stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle is a testimony to the maturity of the technology readiness levels in the country.
This UAV was designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO.
The maiden flight of this aircraft was demonstrated in July 2022, followed by six flight trials in various developmental configurations using two in-house manufactured prototypes.
The team had optimized the avionic systems, integration and flight operations towards the successful 7th flight in the final configuration.
The aircraft prototype with a complex arrowhead wing platform is designed and manufactured with materials developed indigenously. Also, the composite structure is impregnated with fibre interrogators for health monitoring is a showcase of self-reliance (Atmanirbharata) in Aerospace technology.
As a unique capability demonstration, the Autonomous landing of this high-speed UAV without the need for ground radars/infrastructure/pilot is proved, allowing take-off and landing from any runway with surveyed coordinates. This was possible using onboard sensor data fusion with indigenous satellite-based augmentation using GAGAN receivers to improve the accuracy and integrity of GPS navigation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complemented DRDO, the Armed Forces and the Industry for the successful flight trial of the system and stated that the successful development of such critical technologies indigenously will further strengthen the Indian Armed Forces.
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