Article Posted on : - Jul 30, 2013

Lakshya in flight. A DDO photo.

BANGALORE (PTI): Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 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.