Lakshya PTA

Infobox Aircraft
name= Lakshya PTA


type= Pilotless Target Aircraft
manufacturer= HAL
designer= DRDO (ADE)
first flight= 1985
introduced=9 November 2000
retired=
status= Active
primary user= Indian Army
Indian Air Force Indian Navy
more users=
produced= 23+ (for Defence services)
number built=
unit cost=Rs. 293.75 lakh
developed from =
variants with their own articles=

The Lakshya is a remotely piloted high speed target drone system developed by the Aeronautical development establishment (ADE) of DRDO. The drone, remote piloted by a ground control station provides realistic towed aerial sub-targets for live fire training. The drone is ground or ship launched from a zero length launcher and recovery is by a two stage parachute system developed by ADRDE (DRDO), for land or sea based recovery. The drone has a crushable nose cone, which absorbs the impact of landing, minimizing damage. The flight path may be controlled or pre-programmed, based upon the type of mission.

Development

The requirement for a pilotless target aircraft (PTA) arose in 1976. Feasibility studies were carried out by ADE to provide for a target system that met the requirements of all 3 services of the armed forces. An Inter Services Qualitative Requirement (ISQR), common to the three Services, was formulated by a Working Group constituted by the Ministry of Defence in January 1977 and 35 ISQR points were identified. Subsequently, based on a feasibility study carried out by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) , the project for the design and development of Inter-Services PTA by ADE, satisfying the ISQR was sanctioned by Government in September 1980 at a cost of Rs. 170 million including a foreign exchange element of Rs. 80 million. The development activity was planned for completion within five years. In parallel, a development project for indigenous development of PTA Engine (PTAE-7) was also sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.45 million (Rs. One crore = 10 million) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in September 1980, based on a feasibility study and project proposal submitted by HAL. The engine was to be developed by HAL by September 1985, concurrently with the PTA. HAL announced the successful trial of the indigenously-designed and developed remote-controlled PTAE-7 jet engine on 24 January 2001 [ [http://www.hindu.com/2001/01/24/stories/0224000y.htm PTAE-7 jet engine trial successful] ] .

Between December 1985 and July 1986, four Lakshya PTA prototypes powered by Microturbo TRI-60-5 engines were launched for trials. While the first two launches were successful for planned flight times of 20 and 38 minutes respectively, the next two launches failed. By June 1994, 18 Lakshya PTA prototypes were fabricated by ADE itself and 43 trials were conducted, 24 of which were between December 1985 and February 1992. Due to rigorous evaluation and stringent quality control, a total of 10 prototypes were lost during the testing phase between 1985 and 1990. The project was formally closed on June 1994 and a final closure report was issued in April 1995 after incurring a total expenditure of Rs 218.2 million. The first 6 Lakshya drones were given to the IAF in 1998. Laskhya units are manufactured and overhauled at HAL's Aircraft division, Bangalore. The Lakshya was formally inducted into the services by CAS AY Tipnis, on 9 November 2000 at Interim test range (ITR) Chandipur. On May 9, 2002, an upgraded version of the Laskhya featuring the new engine from HAL was flown from ITR Chandipur, bringing user trials to a close. On 6 November 2002, HAL announced that they had received an initial order for 25 Lakshya drones and that limited series production to satisfy the order for all three services had already begun. By 16 January 2003, the drone had completed over 100 flights.

A modified reconnaissance version of the Lakshya is under development. This version was fitted with oblique cameras and a digital onboard computer with a faster datalink enabling the drone to carry out completely autonomous operations. The development of this version was formally announced by Dr VK Aatre, then Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, during his lecture on "Evolving Battlefields and Role of Technology" organized by Bangalore Science Forum on 5 July 2003.

Operational History

Indian Air Force had received the aircraft, ground systems and expendables in September 1999 and Indian Navy was scheduled to receive its first deliveries in November 2000. 23 Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya have been inducted into the defence services. The production cost of one aircraft is Rs. 293.75 lakh. Some countries, like Singapore, Malaysia and Israel have expressed interest for “paid demonstration” of the Lakshya aircraft as a target. A similar “paid demonstration” was conducted for Israel’s Air Force during the year 2002. This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony on 5 September 2007 [ [http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=30907&kwd= PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT LAKSHYA - PIB Press Release] ] .

Operators

;IND
* Indian Air Force
* Indian Navy
* Indian Army

pecifications (Lakshya PTA)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= jet
ref={name of first source}
crew=None
capacity=
length main= 2385 mm
length alt=
span main=
span alt=
height main=
height alt=500-5000 m
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 705 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 1554 lb
more general=

engine (jet)= HAL PTAE-7
type of jet= turbojet
number of jets=1
power main= 373 daN thrust)
power alt=
power original=

max speed main= Mach 0.7
max speed alt=
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 150 km
range alt= 93.2 mi
ceiling main= 9000 m
ceiling alt= 5000 m with towed sub-target
climb rate main= 25 m/sec
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

Launch & recovery

* Launch: Rocket Assisted
* Recovery: Two stage parachute

See also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=
* DRDO Nishant

References