BHUBANESWAR: IN a setback for country’s air surveillance network, an Italian aircraft procured by India reportedly failed to deliver the desired results as it fell down minutes after taking off from a defence test facility off the Odisha coast on Wednesday. A source told ‘The Express’ that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was flown from a launching complex of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipuron- sea between 1 pm and 1.30 pm to gauge its endurance and flight consistency. “The pilotless target aircraft took off as coordinated, but it fell down in the sea nearly after two minutes. It was expected to remain on flight for about 30 to 45 minutes and make at least five laps,” the source said.
Though the exact cause of failure could not be ascertained, defence scientists associated with the mission suspected that the aircraft might have developed technical snag in its engine leading to the fiasco. Another test of the aircraft has been planned on Friday. ITR officials refused to comment. The ‘Mirach’ is of typical twin-boom pusher-prop battlefield surveillance UAV configuration. It can be used for range validation sorties and simulating purposes. Trials are being undertaken to gauge its accuracy and consistency. This sub-sonic and re-usable aerial target system is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air-borne and air defence pilots.
A defence scientist said when it attains a pre-determined altitude, tow bodies are released from its fuselage and towed at a pre-decided distance to function as fast moving aerial targets for firing practice by fighter pilots and the army’s air defence artillery teams. Flight duration of ‘Mirach’ is more than one hour on air, where after making 5-6 laps, it drops down. Later, it is retrieved by a helicopter. The 4.70-metre long UAV having wing span of 2.10-metre can attain a height of 3.5 km. The ‘Mirach’ is a reconnaissance UVA developed in Italy in the 1990s. A turbojet-powered machine, it is apparently a derivative of the ‘Mirach’ 100 series of targets, being of the same general size and also powered by a Micro- turbo TRS-18-1 turbojet.
