India Converts ‘Dumb Bombs’ Into Smart Weapons With New TARA System
New Delhi: In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have successfully carried out the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon system off the coast of Odisha.
The successful test marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen its precision-strike arsenal with homegrown technology. TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to convert conventional unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons capable of accurately striking ground targets from extended ranges.
Developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) along with other DRDO laboratories, the system uses advanced low-cost technologies to significantly enhance the accuracy, lethality and operational effectiveness of conventional warheads.
India successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) weapon off the coast of Odisha on Thursday.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) through its Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along… pic.twitter.com/EgGM7BM8Xd
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Defence officials said the weapon system is aimed at improving the combat capability of the Indian Air Force by enabling low-cost precision attacks against enemy ground-based targets. The glide kit can transform standard bombs into smart munitions, reducing dependence on expensive imported systems.
The maiden trial was conducted successfully with support from the Indian Air Force, marking an important achievement for India’s rapidly expanding indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the IAF, Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP), and Indian industry stakeholders associated with the project. He described the successful flight trial as a major advancement towards strengthening India’s self-reliant defence capabilities.
DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat also praised the scientists, engineers and industry partners involved in the project, calling the successful test a key milestone in India’s defence research and innovation journey.
Officials said production activities linked to the TARA system have already begun with the participation of Indian industry partners, underlining the government’s push for indigenous defence production under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
