Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited today said it has delivered the Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya-1 to Hyderabad based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The aircraft was delivered on July 26 by HAL which is the only company in the country producing UAVs (Unmanned aerial vehicles) like Lakshya-1,it said in a release said. "The aircraft has been delivered ahead of schedule in a record 15 months against 24 months of normal manufacturing cycle time," HAL Chairman R. K. Tyagi said. HAL has so far produced 39 Lakshya-1 aircraft in its aircraft division situated at Bangalore that are currently under use by Indian Air Force,Indian Navy and DRDO. The company said Lakshya-1 is a fully indigenous UAV that can realistically simulate enemy aircraft for air-to-air and surface-to-air weapon system operators; it permits proficiency assessment and improvement of weapon crew in live fire engagement. HAL has stated that it has plans to take up manufacturing of the next generation PTA- Lakshya 2; it will be designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment.
