India successfuly conducts maiden flight of stealth combat 'unmanned air vehicle': DRDO hails indegenous tech
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It's like a mini-US stealth bomber, developed in Bengaluru.
Future is UAV? The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator. It was carried out from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka, on Friday.
The demonstrator, also known as the ‘Stealth Wing Flying Testbed’ (SWiFT), looks like the mini version of a US B-2 stealth bomber, has a similar “flying wing” configuration. This enables it to carry more fuel and remain in air for a longer duration. It also gives the aircraft less radar signature.
The flight named - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru, stated the official press release.
Sharing details about the maiden flight, the release added, “Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, waypoint navigation and a smooth touchdown.”
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is “powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and termed it a major achievement towards autonomous aircraft, adding that it will pave the way for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in terms of critical military systems.
DRDO scientists have said that the test is a major milestone in their efforts towards developing an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) or a combat drone which is of flying wing type.
Sources said the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator is a precursor to an autonomous stealthy UCAV being developed by the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), primarily for the Indian Air Force. A deck launched version for the Indian Navy is also said to be in the pipeline. The UCAV will be capable of launching missiles and precision-guided munitions.