The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Bangalorebased AeronauticalDevelopment Establishment (ADE) on Thursday flight-tested a pilot-less TargetAircraft (PTA), Lakshya-1 from the integrated test range (ITR) off the Odishacoast.
A defence official said the micro-light aircraft fitted withan advanced digital engine remote controlled was test flown at around 12.15 pmfrom the launching complex- II. It was the second trial in a week.
“We tested several developments in the digital version ofthe unmanned aircraft. Lakshya, which was inducted in the IAF in 2000, isrequired for evaluation and development trials of surface-to-air and air-to-airweapon systems,” he said.
Earlier, both the sea and land recovery versions of the PTAhave been test flown successfully on several occasions. The aircraft flew over30 minutes during which all parameters were tested, the official announced,adding that another round of trial may be carried out shortly.
Usually, the flight duration of the six-foot-long unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) is 30 to 35 minutes. After three or four laps, it dropsinto the ocean. It is later retrieved by a helicopter.
Defence sources said, the test was carried out to check thevalidity of its engine and duration enhancement. The PTA, a sub-sonic andre-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground anddesigned to impart training to both airborne and air defence pilots.