What is ABHYAS?

About ABHYAS:

• It is a High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT).
• It has been designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, and developed through Production Agencies - Hindustan Aeronautics Limited & Larsen & Toubro. 
• Features
  • It offers a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice.
  • This indigenous system is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, a laptop-based Ground Control System for aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and autonomous flight.
  • It also has a feature to record data during flight for post-flight analysis.
  • The booster has been designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory and the navigation system by Research Centre Imarat.

Key Facts about DRDO

• It was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then-existing Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). 
• It is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems.
• It has a network of laboratoriesengaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics etc.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.