Once operational, Ghatak could undertake deep-strike missions, penetrating heavily defended airspace to hit high-value targets without placing pilots at risk.
DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile from a mobile articulated launcher.
The third and final test in the series of landing experiment (LEX-03) was conducted at 07:10 1ST at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation on Friday successfully carried out the maiden flight of the indigenously developed unmanned aircraft at Chitradurga, Karnataka.
The vehicle can be used as an aerial target for evaluation of various missile systems.
According to HAL, "this is the biggest ever order that HAL has placed on any Indian company boosting 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign."
The first flight test of indigenously developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Rustom-2, set to be used solely for defence purposes, would take place in February 2014 as per schedule, a top official said on Monday.
India is developing an unmanned aerial vehicle similar to the American Predator drones with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore and planning unmanned combat vehicles, a key official involved in the project said on Monday.
'Lakshya' had been tested several times earlier and to further check its engine viability and duration enhancement, today's test was undertaken from the launch complex-2 of the ITR, defence sources said, adding that, "It is a routine trial." 'Lakshya', a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air-borne and air defence pilots.
Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the United States to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, officials said.
Nishant is one of the few UAVs in the world in its weight-class capable of being catapult launched and recovered by using parachute, thus eliminating the need for a runway as in case of conventional take-off and landing with wheels, a DRDO release said in Bangalore on Friday.
The PTA, developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bangalore, is designed to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance of battlefield and target acquisition.
Till now, India has been importing Israeli-made 'Heron' medium and high altitude series of UAVs for the three services, which are using them extensively for surveillance operations in Jammu and Kashmir and certain other strategic areas.
Nirbhay, India's first home-grown subsonic cruise missile, was on Friday successfully test-launched from the Interim Test Range in Chandipur, near Balasore in Orissa.
'An armed helicopter equipped with counter-drone systems will provide the airborne counter-drone capability and flexibility needed to protect India's critical assets.'
Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa calling the FOC a 'major milestone'.
Here are photos from his life and career as India's pre-eminent defence scientist and one of the country's most popular president
DRDO says it is working with the navy to fit the Rustom-1 with an Automatic Identification System that will identify Indian fishing vessels along the maritime boundary
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