DRDO, IAF conduct first flight test of TARA weapon

by
New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force have successfully conducted the first flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon, off the coast of Odisha on 07 May, 2026. TARA is a modular range extension kit that converts unguided warheads into precision guided weapons, and is the first such indigenous glide weapon system in India. TARA was designed and developed by the Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad along with DRDO laboratories, to enhance the lethality and accuracy of low-cost weapons to neutralise ground-based targets. The glide weapon uses state-of-the-art, low-cost systems.

https://www

The technology allows aircraft to strike targets from a safer distance, enhances India’s indigenous precision strike capability, and reduces dependence on expensive missile systems. The technology allows India to make the most effective use of its existing stockpile of conventional (that is non-nuclear) bombs. The advancement also supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and defence manufacturing goals. The development of TARA has been undertaking with Development cum Production Partners (DcOO) and other Indian industries, that have already started the production activity. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF, DcPP and the industry for the first flight trial, describing the test as a significant development in advancing India’s defence capabilities.

TARA technology is crucial for standoff warfare

W Selvamurthy, President of the Amity Science Foundation said, “Let me congratulate the scientists of DRDO as well as the Indian Air Force for this very important milestone to have low-cost precision-guided munitions, which is very necessary for the standoff warfare, which we have showed in Op Sindoor as well to some extent. In future war, we do not want to risk our own aircraft, our own fighter pilots to the enemy. So we want to have more of standoff distance warfare capabilities, for which you need this precision-guided low-cost solution. It was very precisely demonstrated.”