The DRDO on Friday successfully carried out the maiden flight of an unmanned fighter aircraft at Chitradurga in Karnataka.

Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight and a smooth touchdown, the DRDO said in a statement.

The flight marked a major milestone in proving critical technologies towards the development of future unmanned aircraft and is a significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defence technologies, it read.

The UAV is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were indigenously developed. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO. “It is a major achievement,” he said.

Courtesy: The Tribune India :1st July , 2022