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Journalism of Courage
India8217;s indigenously developed pilotless target aircraft 8216;Lakshya8217; was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range ITR at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore on Wednesday.
PTA Lakshya, fitted with a digitally controlled improved engine, was developed by the aeronautics development establishment, Bangalore, to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance of battlefield and target acquisition.
Usually the flight duration of the six-feet-long micro light aircraft is 30-35 minutes and after covering three to four laps in the sky it drops to the ground with the help of a parachute.
8216;Lakshya8217; had been tested several times earlier and to further check its engine viability and duration enhancement, Wednesday8217;s test was undertaken from the launch complex-2 of the ITR, defence sources said adding, 8220;it is a routine trial.8221;
8216;Lakshya8217;, a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air-borne and air defence pilots.
It has already been inducted into Indian Air Force since 2000, the sources said.
