Flying at sea skimming height of about 15 metres at DRDO’s test range near Balasore, Lakshya-II, the advanced version of DRDO’s pilotless target aircraft (PTA), demonstrated its full capability on January 25. In a flight lasting over 30 minutes, it was made to dive down from an altitude of around 800 metres to just 12 m and maintained required altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out.

The entire flight was pre-programmed and was totally successful. It demonstrated various technologies and sub-systems including software correction to auto rudder scheme done to prevent loss of mission, engaging and flying in way point navigation mode while carrying two tow targets. During the flight one of the tow targets was released and the other was deployed while way point navigation was on.

This was the 10th flight of Lakshya-II PTA and this was the first time that the ultimate capability of the Lakshya-II was demonstrated achieving all the user’s objectives. Lakshya-II has been designed and developed by the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment, a premier DRDO lab specialising in UAVs and flight control systems.