16:27 GMT, January 27, 2012 Flying at sea skimming height of about 15 meters at DRDO’s test range near Balasore, Lakshya-II the advanced version of DRDO’s Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) yesterday demonstrated its full capability. In a flight lasting over 30 minutes, it was made to dive down from an altitude of around 800 meters to just 12m and maintained required altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out.

The entire flight was pre-programed and was totally successful. It demonstrated various technologies and sub-systems including software correction to auto rudder scheme done to prevent loss of mission, engaging and flying in way point navigation mode while carrying 2 tow targets. During the flight one of the tow targets was released and the other was deployed while way point navigation was on.

This was the 10th flight of Lakshya-II PTA and this was the first time that the ultimate capability of the Lakshya-II, was demonstrated achieving all the user’s objectives. Lakshya-II has been designed and developed by the Bangalore based Aeronautical Development Establishment, a premier DRDO lab specializing in UAVs and flight control systems.