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In a significant boost to India’s precision-strike capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday successfully carried out the maiden flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha.
TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to convert conventional unguided warheads into precision-guided munitions using a modular range-extension kit.
The successful test marks a major step in India’s efforts to develop low-cost, high-accuracy stand-off strike weapons.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat along with other DRDO laboratories, the system is intended to improve the accuracy and lethality of existing aerial weapons against ground-based targets.
According to the Defence Ministry, TARA incorporates “state-of-the-art low-cost systems” and has been developed in partnership with Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPPs) and Indian industry. Production activities for the weapon system have already commenced, signalling a move towards induction and larger-scale manufacturing.
The weapon is expected to provide the IAF with an economical precision-strike option capable of engaging targets from extended ranges while reducing exposure of combat aircraft to enemy air defences.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, industry partners and the DcPPs for the successful maiden trial, describing it as an important milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test.
The trial comes amid India’s sustained push for self-reliance in advanced weapons systems as part of the government’s broader defence indigenisation drive.
Team BharatShakti
