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India Successfully Conducts Two Flight Tests of Homemade ‘Lakshya’ Pilotless Target Aircraft
India has recently concluded successful flight tests of the advanced version of the ‘Lakshya’ Pilotless Target Aircraft from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Orissa. This latest test of the indigenously built ‘Lakshya’ aircraft was a developed engine version to be used for aerial reconnaissance in a battlefield as well as target acquisition.
According to Defence officials, two successful flight tests took place in a span of a week which included the developed engine version of the ‘Lakshya’ as well as a digital version. The six-foot long micro light aircraft is designed for target hitting capabilities and to identify location of the enemy’s position. The current test on the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless aircraft was conducted to identify the precision of this advanced and a fully digitalized control system version of ‘Lakshya’.
The micro-light aircraft ‘Lakshya’ was test flown by the Indian Air Force personnel from the ITR at Chandipur-on-sea in the presence of the officials of Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) which has developed the pilotless aircraft. The ‘Lakshya’ flight was tested at very low altitudes as this was one of the pre-requisites of the users, namely the Armed Forces. Earlier, the users had clearly indicated their requirement of flying the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless aircraft at 15 to 25 metres above sea level to simulate trajectory of low-level cruise missiles.
As for the flight test, its duration lasted for about 40 minutes and was controlled by Ground Control Station. The low altitude flight of ‘Laskhya’ was proved over 10 kilometer range and the flight remained stable and within control. The Mobile launcher to launch the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless target aircraft from anywhere and its global positioning system (GPS) to locate for recovery were used successfully, sources added. The pilot-less aircraft also demonstrated its exceptional manoeuvring capability whilst simultaneously simulating manoeuvring attacking aircrafts. The system has been designed so that two targets can be flown and controlled by the Common Ground Control Station (CGCS).
The ‘Lakshya’ pilotless target aircraft is already operational in the Indian Armed Forces. The current test was conducted on an advanced and a fully digitalized control system version of ‘Lakshya’. It is a low flying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which mimics the flight trajectory of a high subsonic cruise missile.
‘Lakshya’ was developed to train air Defence gunners to track and shoot down incoming cruise missiles. ‘Lakshya’ has been used to validate the effectiveness of Akash surface-to-air missiles against low flying cruise missiles as well. Earlier this year, Lakshya-2 target drone completed its first flight test by flying 32 minutes at low altitude. Lakshya-2 is also produced by ADE and can fly down to 49-82 feet (15-25 meters) above sea level, simulating a low-flying cruise missile. The aircraft also demonstrated its manoeuvring capability by simulating attacking aircraft. Officials added that two ‘Lakshya’ targets can be flown and controlled by a common ground station. The Lakshya-2 will come in two versions, one of which can be recovered on land, the other at sea.
India has recently concluded successful flight tests of the advanced version of the ‘Lakshya’ Pilotless Target Aircraft from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Orissa. This latest test of the indigenously built ‘Lakshya’ aircraft was a developed engine version to be used for aerial reconnaissance in a battlefield as well as target acquisition.
According to Defence officials, two successful flight tests took place in a span of a week which included the developed engine version of the ‘Lakshya’ as well as a digital version. The six-foot long micro light aircraft is designed for target hitting capabilities and to identify location of the enemy’s position. The current test on the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless aircraft was conducted to identify the precision of this advanced and a fully digitalized control system version of ‘Lakshya’.
The micro-light aircraft ‘Lakshya’ was test flown by the Indian Air Force personnel from the ITR at Chandipur-on-sea in the presence of the officials of Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) which has developed the pilotless aircraft. The ‘Lakshya’ flight was tested at very low altitudes as this was one of the pre-requisites of the users, namely the Armed Forces. Earlier, the users had clearly indicated their requirement of flying the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless aircraft at 15 to 25 metres above sea level to simulate trajectory of low-level cruise missiles.
As for the flight test, its duration lasted for about 40 minutes and was controlled by Ground Control Station. The low altitude flight of ‘Laskhya’ was proved over 10 kilometer range and the flight remained stable and within control. The Mobile launcher to launch the ‘Lakshya’ pilotless target aircraft from anywhere and its global positioning system (GPS) to locate for recovery were used successfully, sources added. The pilot-less aircraft also demonstrated its exceptional manoeuvring capability whilst simultaneously simulating manoeuvring attacking aircrafts. The system has been designed so that two targets can be flown and controlled by the Common Ground Control Station (CGCS).
The ‘Lakshya’ pilotless target aircraft is already operational in the Indian Armed Forces. The current test was conducted on an advanced and a fully digitalized control system version of ‘Lakshya’. It is a low flying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which mimics the flight trajectory of a high subsonic cruise missile.
‘Lakshya’ was developed to train air Defence gunners to track and shoot down incoming cruise missiles. ‘Lakshya’ has been used to validate the effectiveness of Akash surface-to-air missiles against low flying cruise missiles as well. Earlier this year, Lakshya-2 target drone completed its first flight test by flying 32 minutes at low altitude. Lakshya-2 is also produced by ADE and can fly down to 49-82 feet (15-25 meters) above sea level, simulating a low-flying cruise missile. The aircraft also demonstrated its manoeuvring capability by simulating attacking aircraft. Officials added that two ‘Lakshya’ targets can be flown and controlled by a common ground station. The Lakshya-2 will come in two versions, one of which can be recovered on land, the other at sea.
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I am surprised India has not gone to Alpha Centauri as for as DRDO's claims go. I am just waiting for DRDO to announce that they have finished building FTL drive.
