HAL bags ADE order for aerial vehicle ABHYAS

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: HAL has secured an order for manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing and supply of High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) System, known as ABHYAS from Aeronautical Development Establishment. After the successful completion of this initial order, HAL would be identified as development cum production partner (DcPP) for the supply of this target system along with a private firm (50% of the volume).

The platform is estimated to have large requirements from the three services, DRDO laboratories for evaluation trials of missile programmes.

ABHYAS was first successfully flighttested in May 2019 and subsequent evaluation trials are being conducted by ADE- DRDO. This order would mark the beginning of series production of ABHYAS. ABHYAS is designed and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru.

The air vehicle is launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle. It is powered by a gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at subsonic speed.

The vehicle is programmed to fly on its own. A laptop-based Ground Control Station is used to check out air vehicles.

ABHYAS is equipped with a GPS receiver, an onboard flight control computer, and a missdistance indicator. It’s also equipped with an autopilot for fully autonomous flight.