Exercise – High Speed Expandable Aerial Target (HEAT) was successfully flight tested on 29th June, 2022 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The flight test demonstrated the performance of the aircraft at low altitudes with constant level and high maneuverability. The target aircraft was flown from a ground based controller in a pre-determined low altitude flight path which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR including radar and electro-optical targeting system.
The exercise has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the DRDO. The aerial vehicle was launched using twin under-slug boosters that provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle. It is powered by a small gas turbine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speeds. Micro-electromechanical system based inertial navigation system for navigation with flight control computer for guidance and control along with indigenous radio altimeter for high altitude flight of target aircraft & data link for encrypted communication between ground control station and target aircraft Equipped with. This vehicle is programmed for fully automatic flight.
