Indigenous precision weapon achieves successful maiden flight
India achieved another major milestone in indigenous defence technology after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha.
The successful test marks the arrival of India’s first indigenous glide weapon system capable of converting conventional unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons through a modular range extension kit.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) along with other DRDO laboratories, the TARA system has been designed to significantly improve the lethality, accuracy and operational range of low-cost weapons targeting ground-based threats.
According to the Defence Ministry, TARA represents a breakthrough in India’s growing precision warfare capabilities and is the country’s first glide weapon system built using advanced low-cost technologies.
The project has also emerged as a major success story for the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with Development cum Production Partners (DcPP) and Indian defence industries already initiating production activities for the system.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, IAF and industry partners for the successful maiden trial, describing it as a significant step in strengthening India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also praised the scientists, engineers and associated teams behind the successful test, highlighting the achievement as a key advancement in India’s evolving defence ecosystem.
The successful TARA trial comes at a time when India is rapidly expanding its indigenous missile, drone and precision-guided weapon programmes to enhance operational readiness and reduce dependence on foreign defence imports.
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