The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha.
TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to transform unguided warheads into precision-guided munitions using a modular range extension kit. Developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad in collaboration with other laboratories, the system enhances both the accuracy and lethality of conventional weapons.
The weapon incorporates advanced low-cost technologies, making it a cost-effective solution for neutralising ground-based targets. Its development involved active participation from Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP) and Indian industry, with production activities already underway.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, and industry partners on the successful trial, describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, also lauded the teams involved for achieving the milestone.
The successful trial marks a major step forward in India’s push for self-reliance in defence technology, enhancing precision strike capabilities while reducing dependence on expensive imported systems.
