On Friday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) accomplished a successful flight trial of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator, a homegrown high-speed flying-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
This achievement marks a significant stride in the country's technological capabilities, demonstrating a mature level of readiness in autonomous stealth UAV technology. With the successful flight in the tailless configuration, India has now joined the exclusive group of nations that have mastered controls for flying wing technology.
The UAV, conceptualized and developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, underwent its maiden flight in July 2022, followed by six subsequent flight trials in different developmental configurations, utilizing two in-house manufactured prototypes.
This series of flight tests resulted in notable progress in developing a robust aerodynamic and control system, integrated real-time and hardware-in-loop simulation, and an advanced Ground Control Station. The team successfully optimized avionics systems, integration processes, and flight operations, ultimately culminating in the seventh successful flight in the final configuration.
The aircraft prototype, featuring a sophisticated arrowhead wing platform, is meticulously crafted from lightweight carbon prepreg composite material, an indigenous development. Additionally, the composite structure, embedded with fiber interrogators for health monitoring, stands as a testament to 'Aatmanirbharta' in aerospace technology.
The autonomous landing capability of this high-speed UAV, achieved without the need for ground radars, infrastructure, or a pilot, presented a distinctive capability demonstration. It showcased the ability for take-off and landing from any runway with surveyed coordinates, accomplished through onboard sensor data fusion. This process utilized indigenous satellite-based augmentation, employing GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) receivers to enhance the accuracy and integrity of GPS navigation.
