Bhubaneswar: India marked a major milestone in indigenous defence technology after 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 Thursday.
TARA is a modular range extension kit designed to transform conventional unguided warheads into precision-guided glide weapons, significantly improving strike accuracy and operational effectiveness. Developed indigenously, the system is being seen as an important boost to India’s growing self-reliance in advanced defence technologies, according to an official statement.
The weapon system has been developed by the DRDO through its Research Centre Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories. Officials said the system has been designed to enhance the lethality and precision of low-cost weapons for engaging ground-based targets.
According to DRDO, TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system capable of using advanced low-cost technologies to improve the operational range and targeting capability of existing aerial warheads. The system is also expected to provide greater flexibility to the armed forces during tactical missions.
The development programme has been executed with the support of Development-cum-Production Partners and several Indian industries, which have already initiated production-related activities. The move is expected to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported systems.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, industry partners, and associated teams for the successful maiden trial. He described the achievement as a significant step towards advancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also congratulated scientists, engineers, and all teams involved in the successful flight-trial, calling it an important achievement for the country’s defence research ecosystem.
