Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully carried out the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the Odisha coast on May 7.
TARA is India’s first indigenously developed glide weapon system designed to convert conventional unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons capable of accurately striking ground-based targets.
Developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories, the modular range extension kit has been designed to enhance the range, accuracy and lethality of low-cost weapons systems.
According to officials, the glide weapon incorporates advanced yet cost-effective technologies and is aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of the armed forces through indigenous innovation.
The development programme has been executed in collaboration with Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP) and several Indian industries, which have already initiated production activities for the system.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Air Force, industry partners and associated teams for the successful maiden trial. He described the achievement as a major step forward in strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence technology and weapon systems.
Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat also congratulated the scientists, engineers and teams involved in the successful test.
The successful trial marks another milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to develop advanced indigenous defence platforms and precision-guided weapon technologies under the government’s push for self-reliance in the defence sector.
