Autonomous flying wing technology demonstrator successfully carries out maiden flight in southern India
by Surya PrakashAn autonomous flying wing technology demonstrator successfully carried out its maiden flight in southern India’s Karnataka.
The incident happened at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga city in the eponymous district on July 1.
Visuals showed the aircraft taking off and gradually soaring into the sky, amidst applause from the ones present at the spot, indicating success of its maiden flight.
Powered by a small turbofan engine, all of the aircraft’s components, including the airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems were indigenously developed.
The unmanned aircraft was developed at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bengaluru, which is a premier laboratory under Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
“It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously,” India’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement.